1386.0 - What's New in Regional Statistics, Jun 2009

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/06/2009

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Contents In this issue Welcome from the Director Regional Population Growth Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas Economy Population and People Industry Environment and Energy Other News and Contacts About this Release	INDUSTRY RECENT RELEASES Australian Wine and Grape Industry Motor Vehicle Census ABS Agriculture Statistics Collection Strategy AUSTRALIAN WINE AND GRAPE INDUSTRY Australian Wine and Grape Industry, 2008 (cat. no. 1329.0) was released on 29 January 2009 and presents a statistical compendium of Australia's wine and grape industry. This publication includes information on: area of vines and production of grapes by wine region; wine production and grapes crushed by wine region; structure of the wine manufacturing industry; inventories of wine owned by winemakers at 30 June; brandy and grape spirit production; domestic wine sales; exports and imports of wine; price indexes of grapes and wine; consumption of wine; and world comparisons. Key findings from the publication include: South Australia continues to be the largest winemaking state in Australia, accountable for 43% of the total national wine grape crush, followed by New South Wales (23%) and Victoria (23%). In each of these states, the regions with the highest percentage of grape production for wine-making were Lower Murray, SA (accounting for 21% of grape production in Australia), Big Rivers, NSW (23%) and North West Victoria (16%). On average, Victoria uses the most water per hectare to irrigate their vineyards (4.1 megalitres), followed by NSW (3.8 megalitres) and SA (2.7 megalitres). The most common watering method continues to be drip or micro spray, with 81% of the total irrigated area watered using this method. The proportion of area irrigated by other spray types in Victoria (25%) and the use of watering by furrow or flood in NSW (17%) are still significant. Back to top MOTOR VEHICLE CENSUS The Motor Vehicle Census (MVC) is an annual collection of data on registered vehicles in Australia. The ABS compiles motor vehicle registration statistics from data made available by various state and territory motor vehicle registration authorities. Statistics are collected on passenger vehicles, campervans, light commercial vehicles, all types of trucks, buses and motorcycles. Results from the latest MVC were released on 14 January 2009 and can be found in Motor Vehicle Census, Australia, 31 Mar 2008 (cat. no. 9309.0). The publication presents statistics relating to vehicles which were registered at 31 March 2008 with a motor vehicle registration authority, including information on the vehicle type, year of manufacture and the make and model of the vehicle. Data are available at the postcode level for all states and territories in Australia. Key findings from the publication include: As at 31 March 2008, the total number of motor vehicles registered in Australia rose 3.5% over the past 12 months to 15.3 million. Motorcycle registrations had the highest growth rate compared to any other vehicle, recording a growth rate of 10.8% in the last year. Over the past five years, Queensland (4.5%) and Western Australia (4.0%) have recorded the highest average annual growth rates in motor vehicle registrations. In contrast, South Australia and Victoria had the lowest average annual growth rates in motor vehicle registrations (1.8% and 2.3% respectively). Back to top ABS AGRICULTURE STATISTICS COLLECTION STRATEGY The ABS has recently released three information papers following a review of the ABS Agricultural Survey Program. These papers outline the proposed changes to the program aimed at improving the statistical information base relevant to agriculture and natural resource management statistics. The information papers can be found in the Agriculture Statistics Collection Strategy (cat. no. 7105.0) publication on the ABS website. The first paper, ABS Agriculture Statistics Collection Strategy - 2008-09 and beyond 2008-09 presents the ABS' understanding of the key agricultural policy issue imperatives and areas of priority for statistical data development and outlines the proposed changes to the future ABS Agricultural Survey program. The second paper, ABS Agriculture Statistics Collection Strategy - 2008-09 and beyond 2009 outlines the direction and content of the 2008-09 Agricultural Survey, while the third and final paper, ABS Agriculture Statistics Collection Strategy - 2008-09 and beyond 2009-10 focuses on the proposed strategy for the 2009-10 Agricultural Survey, the 2010-11 Agricultural Census, and subsequent ABS Agricultural Surveys and Censuses. The ABS invites providers and users of agricultural statistics to comment on the proposed collection strategy, with a particular focus on the 2010-11 Agricultural Census collection. To provide feedback, email us at agriculture.statistics@abs.gov.au. Back to top Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.