7105.0.55.003 - National Agricultural Statistics Review - Preliminary findings, 2013-14  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/03/2014  First Issue
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All
  • Glossary
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQ) (Appendix)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NASR about?
The National Agricultural Statistics Review (NASR) seeks to identify opportunities to improve the National Agricultural Statistical Information System (NASIS) and develop a framework for ongoing assessment, coordination and governance of information needs into the future.

Who is undertaking the NASR?
The NASR is a joint project between the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

Why are the ABS and ABARES leading the NASR?
A range of organisations provide statistical data and other information to inform decision making in the agricultural sector. The ABS and the ABARES are leading the NASR as major collectors of official agricultural statistics in Australia and as Australia's National Statistical Organisation and independent research bureau respectively.

What does the NASR aim to achieve?
The NASR will identify:

    · priority information requirements of stakeholders
    · where those information needs are not met by existing data sources
    · overlaps and inconsistencies in existing information requirements
    · opportunities for efficiencies in the national agricultural statistical information system

What is the Essential Statistical Assets (ESA) for Australia and how is it different to the NASR?
The ESA for Australia initiative is being led by the ABS as a key National Statistical Service (NSS) strategy. The aim of this initiative is to allow for effective prioritisation of investment, focus and effort within the NSS, by identifying those essential official statistical assets which are critical to decision-making in a complex and sometimes fragmented information environment across Australia.

The NASR is an assessment of the "agriculture" component of the Australian statistical system and extends beyond official statistics to provide a holistic understanding of the NASIS' ability to inform decision making by governments, industry, and the community.

What is the National Agricultural Statistical Information System (NASIS)?
The National Agricultural Statistical Information System (NASIS) is defined here as the 'agriculture' component of the Australian statistical system. The NASIS exists to inform policy and decision making across the economic, environment and societal dimensions of the agricultural sector. The NASIS consists of agricultural statistical assets and the users, producers and custodians of these agricultural statistics across government, industry, academia and the community.

What are ‘agricultural statistical assets’ considered to be?

Agricultural statistical assets are the statistics, as well as the datasets that they are drawn from (where they exist).Agricultural statistics are broadly taken to mean the data, information, statistics or other knowledge that can be used to provide insights into agricultural activity. In scope are:
    · ABS censuses and surveys
    · ABARES farm, fisheries and forestry surveys
    · commissioned research
    · reports containing information, data or statistics
    · administrative data
    · datasets residing in any agency's databases
    · data and statistics

Why are non-official statistics in-scope of the NASR?

In order to gain a holistic picture of the statistics collected, produced and used for decision making with respect to agriculture, the NASR’s scope is not limited by official statistics.

This means that in additional to official agricultural statistics which are collected and produced by Australian and State/Territory governments and agencies, statistical assets collected and produced by non-government organisations are also in-scope of the NASR.

How do I provide feedback on the NASR?

Feedback on the NASR is open to individuals, groups and organisations. For more information about the NASR feedback process please see How to provide feedback.

How can I hear more about the NASR and its progress?

Progress updates for the NASR will be provided across 2014 up until the release of the NASR's final report on 7 July 2014. Updates will be provided through the ABS website and via the NASR’s email contact list.

To stay in touch with the NASR’s progress and for further information about the NASR, please see the contact information in How to provide feedback.

Will the report be available to the public and if so, how can it be accessed?

The NASR's final report will be made available to the public via the ABS website. Further information on accessing the report will be made available closer to the publication of the report.

What will happen after the NASR?

The NASR will make recommendations on the NASIS. The Australian government, in consultation with stakeholders, will then decide how they address the recommendations.