Vineyards Survey Participant Information

The Vineyards survey is run with the support of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority and collects information from wine grape growers on selected wine grape varieties, including area of vines, wine grape production and water use. The results of this survey will be used to measure the viticulture industry's activity throughout Australia and to support decision making, research and analysis by grape and wine industry policy makers, researchers and the community. Data will be published at the national, state and regional level. The Vineyards publication will be released in October 2015.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. My business is small, why do you need my information?
2. Do I have to fill it in?
3. Why is the survey form I have received full of questions about activities in which I am not involved?
4. Who uses the data I supply?
5. Why wasn't there a question on . . . ?
6. I have already sent you the information requested.
7. Isn't this an intrusion into my private business? Is confidentiality guaranteed?
8. Why don't you pay people to fill in your forms and why can't we have more time to fill them in?
9. How accurate do the figures need to be?
10. Can't the ABS collect this data from other sources?
11. What Geographical Indication (GI) region am I in?


1. My business is small, why do you need my information?

Smaller businesses have different characteristics to larger businesses, and make an important contribution to the Australian economy, especially at state and territory levels. Consequently, the ABS considers it essential to survey smaller businesses together with larger businesses to ensure comprehensive representation and accuracy of data. Furthermore, small vineyards are a major part of the vineyard industry in Australia and as such need to be represented in the industry statistics we produce.

2. Do I have to fill it in?

The ABS relies on the goodwill of individuals and businesses in Australia to provide accurate information as requested. The vast majority of business owners respond to our requests for information. However, the Census and Statistics Act 1905 provides the Australian Statistician with the power, if necessary, to direct you in writing to answer the questions.

3. Why is the survey form I have received full of questions about activities in which I am not involved?

There will always be some questions on each form that are not relevant to some businesses. Form sequencing is used to ensure that businesses do not have to complete questions that are not relevant to them.

4. Who uses the data I supply?

Viticulture data produced by the ABS is used by a variety of individuals and organisations in both government and private industry. The information is used by the Australian Government and state/territory governments for planning, budgeting and policy development. Industry organisations and other producer associations use the data to support submissions to government and to better represent their members.

The Vineyards collection is supported by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority. The survey is designed to collect varietal information on the specified wine grape varieties grown and measure the industry's activity throughout Australia. The main user of this information is the Australian Grape and Wine Authority. This is a Commonwealth statutory authority established under the Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013 that commenced on 1 July 2014.

The Australian Grape and Wine Authority brings together the research, development and extension activities of the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation and the market development and compliance activities of the Wine Australia Corporation in one new entity. The Australian Grape and Wine Authority is funded by grape growers and winemakers through levies and user-pays charges and the Australian Government, which provides matching funding for research and development investments.

5. Why wasn't there a question on . . . ?

Questions on the Vineyards form are determined in consultation with the major data users. When determining what questions to include in a survey, the ABS considers a range of factors, including: whether information can be obtained from other sources; why the data is needed; how the information will be obtained; ability of businesses to provide the information; and costs.

Each year the ABS asks a number of primary producers to test proposed questions for the Vineyards collections to ensure they can be readily understood and easily completed. In addition, the ABS relies on information provided through your comments on the back of the forms. Your contributions are encouraged and valued and the ABS makes use of them where possible.

6. I have already sent you the information requested.

If you believe you have already provided the information requested by the ABS through a survey or other means, please contact us on 1800 023 105.

7. Isn't this an intrusion into my private business? Is confidentiality guaranteed?

The ABS has a responsibility to ensure that it provides a quality statistical service whilst also protecting the privacy rights of those individuals or businesses who provide information. Your completed form remains confidential to the ABS and statistics will only be published in the form of aggregated data. In some circumstances very detailed statistics could relate to data for a single business. Businesses who can show that their information may be identified in the detailed statistics published by the ABS, can apply to the ABS to further aggregate the data to avoid such identification. The Australian Statistician and ABS officers are bound by the Census and Statistics Act 1905 to observe the strictest confidence in regard to the information supplied by providers. The Act provides for penalties of up to $5,000 and/or two years in jail, or both, against officers who breach this rule.

8. Why don't you pay people to fill in your forms and why can't we have more time to fill them in?

The ABS appreciates that considerable time and effort is required on the part of businesses to complete ABS forms. However, there is no provision within the Census & Statistics Act 1905 to reimburse businesses and individuals for the cost of providing statistical information. ABS relies on the cooperation of individuals, businesses and other organisations to supply information for statistical purposes without compensation. It is important that we receive data from providers in a timely manner so that the resulting information can be released as soon as possible after the period to which it relates. In the case of the annual collections, if you are unable to supply the certain figures because they will not be available for some weeks, you may ask for an extension of time. As timing is particularly important, the ABS asks that a careful estimate be provided to assist the timely release of data. We also encourage providers to contact us on 1800 023 105 if they need any help in completing the survey form.

9. How accurate do the figures need to be?

The ABS requires information that is as accurate as possible. The data supplied by your business contributes to estimates relating to all businesses (of a similar nature) operating in Australia. The more accurate the figures you supply, the more accurate the total estimate will be. However, if for some items exact data is not readily available, careful estimates will be accepted.

10. Can't the ABS collect this data from other sources?

In deciding to undertake a Vineyards collection, ABS considers the range of other data sources available, whether the information could be collected via other means and the suitability of the topic for collection via an ABS survey. In addition, ABS business surveys must pass the scrutiny of the Statistical Clearing House (SCH), which must clear all surveys that are directed to 50 or more businesses and that are conducted by or on behalf of any Australian Government agency. The purpose of the SCH is to reduce duplication, minimise the burden on business and ensure that surveys are fit for purpose.

11. What Geographical Indication (GI) region am I in?

Australian Geographical Indication (GI) Zones are official descriptions of Australian wine zones as defined in the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Act 1980. A full list of GI Zones and Regions is presented below.


ZONEGI REGION

New South Wales

Big RiversMurray Darling (NSW)
Perricoota
Riverina
Swan Hill (NSW)
Big Rivers - Other
Central RangesCowra
Mudgee
Orange
Central Ranges - Other
Hunter ValleyHunter
Hunter Valley - Other
Northern RiversHastings River
Northern Rivers - Other
Northern SlopesNew England Australia
Northern Slopes - Other
South CoastShoalhaven Coast
Southern Highlands
South Coast - Other
Southern New South WalesCanberra District (NSW)
Gundagai
Hilltops
Tumbarumba
Southern New South Wales - Other (NSW)
Western PlainsWestern Plains

Victoria

Central VictoriaBendigo
Goulburn Valley
Heathcote
Strathbogie Ranges
Upper Goulburn
Central Victoria - Other
GippslandGippsland
North East VictoriaAlpine Valleys
Beechworth
Glenrowan
King Valley
Rutherglen
North East Victoria - Other
North West VictoriaMurray Darling (Vic)
Swan Hill (Vic)
North West Victoria - Other
Port PhillipGeelong
Macedon Ranges
Mornington Peninsula
Sunbury
Yarra Valley
Port Phillip - Other
Western VictoriaGrampians
Henty
Pyrenees
Western Victoria - Other

Queensland

QueenslandGranite Belt
South Burnett
Queensland - Other

South Australia

BarossaBarossa Valley
Eden Valley
Barossa - Other
Far NorthSouthern Flinders Ranges
Far North - Other
FleurieuCurrency Creek
Kangaroo Island
Langhorne Creek
McLaren Vale
Southern Fleurieu
Fleurieu - Other
Limestone CoastCoonawarra
Mount Benson
Mount Gambier
Padthaway
Robe
Wrattonbully
Limestone Coast - Other
Lower MurrayRiverland
Lower Murray - Other
Mount Lofty RangesAdelaide Hills
Adelaide Plains
Clare Valley
Mt Lofty Ranges - Other
The PeninsulasThe Peninsulas

Western Australia

Central Western AustraliaCentral Western Australia
Eastern Plains, Inland and North of Western AustraliaEastern Plains, Inland and North of Western Australia
Greater PerthPeel
Perth Hills
Swan District
Greater Perth - Other
South West AustraliaBlackwood Valley
Geographe
Great Southern
Manjimup
Margaret River
Pemberton
South West Australia - Other
West Australian South East CoastalWest Australian South East Coastal

Tasmania

TasmaniaTasmania

Northern Territory

Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory

Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital TerritoryCanberra District (ACT)
Southern New South Wales - Other (ACT)



CONTACTS


If you need help with this survey, or wish to provide comments on the survey or survey content, you can
phone the ABS:

Vineyards Survey
Free call: 1800 023 105

National Information and Referral Service
1300 135 070

Write to the ABS, stating the name of the survey:

Australian Bureau of Statistics
Reply Paid 76746
Sydney NSW 2000

The ABS is grateful for the cooperation of data providers in returning their completed forms promptly to enable early processing and release of results from our survey collections. We look forward to your continued support.

Thank you