New online statistical profiles to help compare Australian regions, Mar 2004

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MEDIA RELEASE

March 22, 2004
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
47/2004
New online statistical profiles to help compare Australian regions

A new, easy and free way for decision-makers to measure, evaluate and compare the performance of regions in Australia was recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Andrew Middleton of the ABS Rural and Regional Statistics National Centre said the National Regional Profile (NRP) was produced in response to the widespread demand from communities for an easily accessible range of ABS and non-ABS statistical information in a one-stop-shop format.

"Users of regional statistics can now find at the click of a button the key economic and social ingredients that make up their region, as well as compare their region to others across Australia," he said.

"People and organisations, like Regional Development Boards, often need a complete snapshot of their local region and at the moment this is not easy to find. The NRP is a step towards addressing this problem.

"The NRP is an excellent opportunity for a community to take on informed decision-making, research and discussion about their region."

Available from the Local Government Area up to the national level, the profiles combine a range of ABS and non-ABS information including: population; births and deaths; unemployment; remoteness; income support customers; taxable income; wage and salary earners; building approvals; and motor vehicle sales.

Data for the profiles was sourced from a number of areas including various ABS censuses and surveys, the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, the Australian Taxation Office and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

The first release NRP contained data for only one year. In early 2005, the NRP will be expanded to contain a five-year time series for each region. It is also intended that the range of indicators will be extended over time.

The National Regional Profile for different Australian regions can be downloaded free from this site.