1014.0 - Trust in ABS and ABS Statistics - A survey of informed users and the general community, 2015  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/10/2015  First Issue
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

20 October 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed: 6.00 am (Canberra time)
116/2015
High community trust in the ABS

Trust in the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) remains high, with a recent survey showing that 81 per cent of the general public and 100 per cent of informed users trust Australia’s official statistical organisation.

Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, The Hon Alex Hawke MP said the positive independent survey results affirmed the Government’s historic investment in the ABS.

“This is a particularly gratifying result,” said Alex Hawke MP. “As the nation’s statistical organisation, the ABS takes its role very seriously and works hard to ensure the public and informed users regard the ABS as a trusted producer of timely and quality data that informs community debate and strong public policy.

“The government investment of an additional $250 million over five years will enable the ABS to develop the statistical capabilities required for a 21st century national statistical office.”

The survey results were released to coincide with World Statistics Day on 20 October – which recognises the important role that statistics play in the everyday lives of Australians.

“The 2015 World Statistics Day theme is ‘Better Data. Better Lives’ which is in keeping with the ABS’s own transformation to ensure we maintain high levels of trust and confidence in our statistics as we deliver innovative solutions in this dynamic information age,” said Australian Statistician, David W. Kalisch.

“Innovation will enable the ABS to explore better data services and integration including new sources of revenue from commercial users while continuing to provide free access to a wide range of official statistics on the ABS website, mobile devices, and via social media,” said Mr Kalisch.

The survey results also show that informed users were especially positive about the future usefulness of ABS statistics (93 per cent) and around one third (31 per cent) of the general community had used ABS statistics for work or study. Of informed users surveyed, 99 per cent expressed trust in the statistics produced by the ABS compared to 97 per cent in 2010.

The Community Trust and ABS Statistics Survey (CTASS), conducted by independent supplier the Social Research Centre, interviewed about 2,340 people in June/July 2015 and compared the results with a similar survey conducted in 2010.

More information on the Community Trust and ABS Statistics Survey, follow the link to the publication on the ABS website.

Media note:

  • Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.