2902.0 - Census Update, Jun 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/06/2007   
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Australia Celebrates The Release of 2006 Census Data!

From the Australian Statistician -

On 27 June, 2007, first release data from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing became available to all Australians via the ABS website. This release includes a vast amount of important information about our nation, and there is much more to come over the next 12 months.

This is what the Census is all about: putting vital information into the hands of users right across Australia. It helps us to see how our nation is changing. It provides statistical information to assist decision making for all aspects of society, including all levels of government, from the national right down to local and the community.

Starting with this first data release, all the data from our national census will be available free of charge on our website at www.abs.gov.au/census. I strongly recommend a visit to our site to see how easy it is to access the Census data using our new MapStats and QuickStats online facilities.

Good decisions are based on good information, and the Census is a very powerful source of information for governments, businesses, academics, researchers, students, community organisations and individuals.

    The Census is a fundamental building block for official statistics in Australia. It is a resource that documents -- without revealing personal information -- who we are, where we live, and the circumstances that we live in.

    It underpins or complements many of our other statistical activities. It supports our democracy through its application in the distribution of electorates across Australia and the allocation of government funding, particularly between the Commonwealth and the states.

    The immense value of the rich flow of information Australia enjoys from the Census is visible all around us. It's likely our local shopping centres, transport services, schools, hospitals and seniors centres were carefully planned using Census data to ensure they were well located.

    This first release of 2006 Census results also gives me the opportunity to thank the people of Australia for their ready participation and cooperation in another successful Census. Whilst completing the Census form is a legal obligation, in practice the Census is so successful because Australians choose to participate voluntarily. And that participation goes to the heart of the trust and confidence the community places in our national statistical agency, a trust we at ABS value enormously.

    My thanks also go to the users of Census data, who once again have assisted us in designing the products and services that help put that data to work for the benefit of our society and our economy.

    Brian Pink
    Australian Statistician
    June 2007