INTRODUCTION
1. This publication brings together a range of ABS and non-ABS data to provide users of Regional Statistics, Queensland (cat. no. 1362.3) with information on key social and economic variables for the local government areas of Queensland. Historical data, as well as the latest available data (at the time of preparation) enable comparison over time and between regions.
2. Data presented are obtained from a wide variety of collections, both ABS and non-ABS. When analysing the data, care needs to be taken as time periods, definitions, methodologies, scope and coverage may differ. Some main data concepts and definitions are included below. For more detailed information, including technical notes, please refer to the relevant source publications that are listed in the Bibliography.
REGIONS
3. The regions specified are local government areas as defined in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), (cat. no. 1216.0). Legal local government areas (LGAs), are spatial units which represent the geographical areas of incorporated local government councils, such as cities (C), towns (T) and shires (S).
4. Statistical divisions, which are groupings of whole or partial LGAs, are designed to be relatively homogeneous regions characterised by identifiable social and economic units within the region. The statistical division of North West includes unincorporated islands.
5. Statistical districts enable comparable statistics to be produced about selected urban areas which are designed to contain the anticipated urban spread of areas containing a population of 25,000 or more, for at least 20 years.
6. The regions used for the publication of labour force statistics are based on standard geographical regions and are mostly identical in terms of spatial definitions with the statistical regions of the ASGC.
7. While care was taken in producing the concordances for non-ABS data, the concorded data are not an official ABS product and the ABS will not guarantee the accuracy of concorded data. No liability will be accepted by the ABS for any damages arising from decisions or actions based upon the data.
8. In applying the concordances it is assumed that the particular characteristics of any data item are uniformly distributed across the spatial area.
9. The area in square kilometres of statistical areas is derived from digitised statistical boundaries from the 2001 census. There have been improvements to the digital base maps used to map statistical geography. This has resulted in small increases in area from the 1996 ASGC to the 2001 ASGC used in this publication.
10. ABS data in this publication relate to the period 1997 to 2001. Where possible, data are presented according to the ASGC 2001 edition. Exceptions are: ASGC 1996 Edition applies to Agriculture and Labour Force. ASGC 2000 Edition applies to Births, Deaths, Building and Tourist Accommodation.
Note, however, that for these the transfer of the local government area of Bowen Shire from the Northern Statistical Division to the Mackay Statistical Division has been taken into account, except for the Labour Force data.
SELECTED DATA ITEMS
Population estimates
11. This publication contains final estimates of the resident population for statistical divisions in Queensland for each year at 30 June from 1997 to 2001. The estimates are based on results of the 2001 census of population and housing, and were calculated for post-census dates by a linear regression model using independent indicators of population change.
12. Resident population estimates for the period 1996-2001 have been revised using the 2001 Census results. Final estimates for the 1996-2001 period will be published in March 2003. For further information see Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).
13. Figures are shown to the nearest unit without rounding, but accuracy to the last digit is not claimed and should not be assumed.
Social security customers
14. The figures shown under the heading ‘Social security customers’ have been compiled by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS). The social security system in Australia provides, subject to eligibility criteria, income support for people who are retired, have a disability or medical condition which prevents them from working, are unemployed, have children in their care or are not in a position to provide for themselves because of special circumstances. It also provides a framework to support access to employment for those with the ability to participate in the workforce.
15. The statistics compiled by FaCS on Australia's welfare customers are classified according to the postcode district in the postal address held on departmental records. The figures shown in this publication have been converted from postcode areas to local government areas using geographic concordances based on 1998 estimated resident population data. Further information can be obtained in the publications Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, Income Support Customers - a statistical overview and Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, Customers by Postcode (cat. no. 109.06).
Building approvals
16. Statistics of building work approved are compiled from: permits issued by local government authorities and other principal certifying authorities contracts let or day labour work organised by commonwealth, state, semi-government and local government authorities major building approvals in areas not subject to normal administrative approval e.g. building on remote mine sites.
17. The statistics in this publication include: all approved new residential building valued at $10,000 or more approved alterations and additions to residential building valued at $10,000 or more all approved non-residential building jobs valued at $50,000 or more.
18. Excluded from the statistics is construction activity not defined as building (e.g. construction of roads, bridges, railways, earthworks, etc.).
Agriculture
19. Agriculture data are presented annually for statistical divisions from 1997 to 2000 based on Agricultural Census data for 1997 and the Agricultural Commodities Survey for the years 1998 to 2000. Data for LGAs has been presented for 1997, the latest available agricultural census. Survey data for the small areas are subject to high standard errors and hence are not available. The results from the 2001 Agricultural Census are expected to be released in November 2002.
20. Agricultural commodity production is mainly taken from the ABS agricultural census and in general the statistics relate to the season ended 31 March each year.
21. Data prior to 1998 were collected from the agricultural census. From 1998 onwards data have been collected from the agricultural commodities survey. The data presented have been concorded to align with 1998 agricultural business location counts obtained from the ABS Business Register.
22. The value of agricultural commodities produced is derived by multiplying quantity data by price (or unit value) data. The quantity data are collected in the agricultural census, other ABS collections and in some cases, from external sources. All price information is obtained from non-ABS sources.
Tourist accommodation
23. From 1998 onwards, data include licensed hotels, motels and guest houses with facilities and serviced apartments with 15 or more rooms or units. For 1997 and prior, the data included licensed hotels, motels and guest houses with facilities with 5 or more rooms or units. Due to this significant change in the survey scope, data before and after the change are not directly comparable. For further explanation, refer to the March quarter 1998 issue of Tourist Accommodation, Australia (cat. no. 8635.0.).
Motor vehicle registrations
24. New motor vehicle registration statistics, prior to January 2002, were obtained monthly from the state’s motor vehicle registration authority and reflect the information recorded in registration documents. The figures shown in this publication have been derived by converting postcode areas to local government areas using geographic concordances based on ASGC 2001. 25. Motor vehicles data exclude Commonwealth Government owned vehicles.
Income
26. The taxable income data have been obtained from the Australian Taxation Office with the statistics being aggregated from the residential postcode address of the taxpayers. Individual income tax records have not been released to the ABS, rather the data obtained has previously been aggregated and confidentialised to protect the identity of individuals.
27. Individual taxable income data has been concorded to LGAs based on the ASGC 2001 edition. Wages and salary data has been concorded to the ASGC 1999 edition, except for recognising the transfer of the Bowen LGA from the Northern Statistical Division to the Mackay Statistical Division.
Crime
28. The statistics contained in this publication were obtained from the Queensland Police Service at the Police Division level. These data were then converted into LGAs by the Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR), Queensland Treasury. The numbers and rates of offences and offenders presented are therefore not official Queensland Police Service statistics and should be treated as estimates only.
29. Information is not available for a number of the smaller LGAs. Users may wish to refer to OESR’s web site <http://www.oesr.qld.gov.au> to obtain ‘Small area crime profiles, 2000-2001’ data where these LGAs were aggregated by the OESR to form larger geographical groupings.
30. The methodology used to disaggregate the data to the LGA level does not take into consideration factors, such as socioeconomic influences, when allocating crime to local government areas. Therefore, the statistics should be considered estimates only and treated with caution.
Schools and students
31. The statistics contained in this publication have been derived from information provided by Education Queensland and concorded to LGAs based on the ASGC 2001 edition. The statistics are for numbers of government and non-government schools and students, covering primary, secondary, combined primary and secondary, and special schools as at the first Friday in August each year.
Labour force
32. This report contains original (unadjusted) estimates of employed persons and unemployed for labour force statistical regions. Historically, these series have shown a high degree of variability which is inherent in data from the labour force survey relating to small labour markets. Care should therefore be taken in the interpretation of regional estimates.
33. The purpose of the Labour Force Survey is to provide timely information on the labour market activity of the usually resident civilian population of Australia aged 15 years and over. The statistics of most interest each month are the estimates of the number of employed and unemployed people, the unemployment rate and the labour force participation rate. Data on occupation, industry, status in employment, and underemployment, are collected in the months February, May, August and November only. For further information refer to Labour Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, (cat. no. 6102.0).
34. The labour force survey is designed primarily to produce reliable national, state and territory estimates. While estimates for regions are components of corresponding estimates at the state level, independent population benchmarks are not applied at the statistical region level. Therefore, while statistical region estimates will add to the state total, they will show less stability than for similar estimates at the state level. In addition, estimates (particularly estimates of unemployment), being considerably lower than state estimates, are subject to higher relative standard errors.
35. The ASGC version used for Labour Force data is updated every five years. The data in this publication relates to ASGC 1996 edition. The ASGC 2001 edition will be used from November 2002.
Further information
36. Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed in the Catalogue of Publications and Products (cat. no. 1101.0). The catalogue is available from any ABS office or this site. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead.
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