New MOU sharpens focus on migrant statistics (Media Release)

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MEDIA RELEASE
September 4, 2006
Embargoed 11.30am (AEST)
79/2006
New MOU sharpens focus on migrant statistics

Statistical cooperation between the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) has strengthened with today's signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the National Migrant Statistics Unit within the ABS.

Mr Andrew Metcalfe, Secretary, DIMA, and Ms Susan Linacre, acting Australian Statistician, are to sign the new MOU in Canberra on behalf of their agencies.

Both Mr Metcalfe and Ms Linacre gave strong support for the MOU and for continued cooperation in the development of a more rigorous statistical base for issues related to migrants and ethnicity.

This MOU reflects increased community and policy interest in the field of migrants and their settlement outcomes. Statistics are required to support key policy areas and to inform community debate and decision making in an area which has far reaching impacts on Australian society.

The MOU indicates the strong support for the ABS to provide leadership and coordination in the area of migrant and ethnicity statistics, be they sourced from the ABS or other administrative sources.

Further information can be found on the ABS web site under Theme Pages> People> Migrants and ethnicity.