3401.0 - Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia, Jul 2013 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 04/09/2013   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE Release Date
August 2013 8 October 2013
September 2013 5 November 2013
October 2013 5 December 2013
November 2013 13 January 2014
December 2013 12 February 2014
January 2014 11 March 2014



DATA NOTES

This publication contains overseas movement data which should not be interpreted as 'persons'. See paragraph 5 of the Explanatory Notes for more detail.

The statistics in this publication have been rounded to the nearest 100 for short-term movements and to the nearest 10 for permanent and long-term movements. As a result, sums of the components may not add exactly to totals. Analysis featured in this publication is based on unrounded data. Calculations made on rounded data may differ to those published.


REBUILD OF THE OVERSEAS ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES SYSTEM

The ABS is currently undertaking a rebuild of the Overseas Arrivals and Departures (OAD) system. The primary aim of this project is to improve the quality of OAD data, given its importance as input to a broad range of statistical collections.


Why rebuild the OAD system?

OAD data is a key economic indicator, providing important information on cross-border movements. The data feed into a number of important collections at the ABS including International Trade; National Income & Consumption; International Accounts and the Tourism Satellite Account. It is also a major input for estimating Net Overseas Migration (NOM) and therefore the Estimated Resident Population (ERP).

The data is also used extensively by other government departments, such as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and by business, particularly within the tourism industry.

The OAD system has not been reviewed in over 10 years and some assumptions and methodologies were in need of updating. The focus of the rebuild has been on improving the quality of OAD data through an enhanced processing methodology, with a particular emphasis on introducing more robust imputations for missing traveller data.


What data will change?

Nearly all data will change to some degree. The main variables to change due to improved imputations include:
  • Country of Birth - particularly for NZ citizens,
  • Country of Embarkation/Disembarkation,
  • Country of Stay/Residence,
  • Reason for Journey,
  • State of Stay/Residence, and
  • Duration of Stay - the main categories of travel that will change are:
      • Long-Term Visitor Arrivals (LTVA) - average increase 24%;
      • Long-Term Resident Departures (LTRD) - average increase 11%;
      • Short-Term Visitor Arrivals (STVA) - average decrease 1.3%; and
      • Short-Term Resident Departures (STRD) - average decrease 0.1%.


Will it be a break in series?

Yes, it will be a break in series. However, the ABS is planning to release a time series based on the improved methodology back to July 2004.


When will the changes be published?

The improved OAD data will be made available from the reference month of January 2014 in Overseas Arrivals and Departures - Australia, January 2014 (cat. no. 3401.0)  scheduled for release on 11 March 2014.


Will this affect other ABS data?

Yes. All data that uses OAD data as a major input to their collection will be affected to some degree. Each area of the ABS, International Trade; National Income & Consumption; International Accounts and the Tourism Satellite Account will provide additional information prior to March 2014.


Will this affect the NOM time series?

Yes. The data from the rebuilt OAD system has already been used to produce final NOM from September quarter 2006 onwards which has already been released in Australian Demographic Statistics, December Quarter 2012 (cat. no 3101.0). It made minimal change to the final NOM estimate, with analysis of the change included on page 22 of the same publication.

It will also affect preliminary NOM. The testing undertaken to date, shows an improvement in accuracy for estimating preliminary NOM. Preliminary NOM data based on the improved OAD data will become available from June Quarter 2013, in Australian Demographic Statistics, June Quarter 2013 (cat. no 3101.0) scheduled  for release on 17 December 2013.

An Information Paper: Further Improvements to Net Overseas Migration Estimation, Dec 2013 (cat. no. 3412.0.55.002) is also scheduled for release on 17 December 2013.


Where do I look for more information?

Information about the upcoming changes will be put in the Notes Section of each Overseas Arrivals and Departures (cat. no. 3401.0) publication until the new series are released on 11 March 2014.

Information on the improved methodology, particularly on the enhanced imputations, will be made available with the release of Overseas Arrivals and Departures - Australia, January 2014 (cat. no. 3401.0) on 11 March 2014.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Erica Galloway on Hobart (03) 6222 5884.