Australian Bureau of Statistics

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is Australia's national statistical agency. It came into being, as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 (xi) of the Constitution of Australia. The founding fathers recognised that statistics were going to be important to the new nation and ensured the Commonwealth government had legislative power about census and statistics.

The present mission of the Australian Bureau of Statistics is to assist and encourage informed decision-making, research and discussion within government and the community by leading a high-quality objective and responsive national statistical service.

1 Population and Housing
2 Research and Development
- 2.1 Australian Standard Research Classification
3 Year Book Australia
4 Australian Statistician
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Population and Housing

The agency undertakes the Australian Census of Population and Housing. The Census is conducted every 5 years under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, Section 8. [1]. The last Australian population census was held on 8 August 2006. Results from the 2006 Census are available on the ABS web site. [2].

[edit] Research and Development

The ABS has been undertaking surveys to collect estimates from Australian organisations of R&D expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D in Australia since 1978.^[1] The results allow the nature and distribution of Australia's R&D activity to be monitored by government policy analysts and advisers to government, businesses and economists.

There are four surveys^[1]:

R&D Business survey, conducted annually
R&D Higher Education survey, conducted biennially
R&D General Government survey, conducted biennially
R&D Private Non-profit Sector survey, conducted biennially

[edit] Australian Standard Research Classification

See also: Frascati Manual

The survey reports research against the Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC). The first ASRC was released in 1993 ^[2] and was in use until 1998. It comprised three classification schemes; Type of Activity (TOA), Field of Research (FOR) and Socio-Economic Objective (SEO). In 1998, a second ASRC was released ^[3] with a revised Socio-Economic Objective classification that used a different numbering range, and a Research Field, Course and Discipline (RFCD) classification to replace FORs. This revised classification came into effect in the 2000 collection period, which was due on 31 August 2001.^[4]

TOA - R&D activity is categorised according to the type of research effort:

pure basic research
strategic basic research
applied research
experimental development

RFCD - This classification allows both R&D activity and other activity within the higher education sector to be categorised. Prior to ASRC 1998, this information was collected using a different set of indicators called Field of Research. It has been expanded in order that it can be used within the higher education sector to classify courses, units of study and teaching activity to field. The categories in the classification include recognised academic disciplines and related major sub-fields taught at universities or tertiary institutions, major fields of research investigated by national research institutions and organisations, and emerging areas of study.

SEO - This classification allows R&D to be categorised according to the purpose of the R&D as perceived by the researcher. It consists of discrete economic, social, technological or scientific domains for identifying the principal purpose of the R&D. The attributes applied to the design of the SEO Classification comprise a combination of processes, products, health, education and other social and environmental aspects of particular interest.

[edit] Year Book Australia

ABS produces an annual year book for Australia, called the Year Book Australia, which is the principal reference work produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It provides a comprehensive and detailed statistical overview of various aspects of the economy and social conditions in Australia.

In addition, it contains descriptive matter dealing with Australia’s geography and climate, government, international relations, defence, education, and the health and welfare support systems.

In April 2008, the ABS announced the cancellation of the 2009 Year Book due to budgetary constraints. [3]

[edit] Australian Statistician

Since 1975, the head of the ABS has been known as the Australian Statistician. Previously, the office was titled the Commonwealth Statistician. A full list of all office-holders is at Australian Statistician.

The incumbent (since March 2007) is Brian Pink.^[5]

[edit] See also

ANZSIC - Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification - an industry classification developed jointly with Statistics New Zealand
The Australian Statistical System: Evolution and Challenges, a paper contributed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to the thirty-eighth session of the Statistical Commission of the United Nations, New York, 27 February to 2 March 2007 [4].