Recent releases Selected recent releases Information papers, research papers, and classifications Other releases

Selected releases

1380.0.55.005 Perspectives on Regional Australia: Population Turnover, 2006. Released 30/09/2008. First Issue

For the 2006 Census, more than 80% of the usual residents of Melbourne (C) - Inner SLA (excluding age 0-4 years and those who did not state where they lived five years ago) were new arrivals (arrived within the last five years) to the SLA. Most of these arrivals (57.8%) were from overseas. Melbourne (C) - Inner contained a high proportion of rented dwellings (71.0% of occupied private dwellings) and the main (almost the only) type of dwelling was flats, units or apartments (97.8% of occupied private dwellings). The median rent for the SLA was $305 per week, relatively high compared with the average $185 per week recorded for Victoria.

Melbourne (C) - Inner had almost double the proportion of lone person households compared to Australia (42.1% and 24.4%, respectively) and a much higher proportion of group households (21.2% compared to 3.9% for Australia). The Melbourne (C) - Inner SLA had a high proportion of young people, with a median age of usual residents of 25 years, compared with 37 years for Australia. Almost one third (32.7%) of residents were attending University or other tertiary institutions compared with 4.1% of residents in Australia. Only 43.4% of SLA usual residents spoke only English at home, compared with 83.2% of people living in Australia.

2050.0 Australian Census Analytic Program: Counting the Homeless, 2006. Released 04/09/2008

This publication aims to establish the extent of homelessness in Australia in August 2006, using Census data complemented by data from other surveys of youth homelessness and users of support services. It also provides information on the change in size and composition of the homeless population over time, and draws on earlier research using 1996 and 2001 Census data.

In Victoria during August 2006, the homeless count was estimated at 20,511 people, giving a rate of 42 homeless people per 10,000 population, similar to the 44 per 10,000 rate in 2001.

3222.0 Population Projections, Australia, 2006 to 2101. Released 04/09/2008

The population projections presented in this publication cover the period 30 June 2008 to 2101 for Australia; and 30 June 2008 to 2056 for the states, territories, and capital cities/balance of state. The projections are not predictions or forecasts, but simply illustrations of the growth and change in population which would occur if certain assumptions about future levels of fertility, mortality, internal migration and overseas migration were to prevail over the projection period. The assumptions incorporate recent trends which indicate increasing levels of fertility and net overseas migration for Australia.

Taking the medium level assumptions, Series B projects that by 2056 the population of Victoria will reach 8.5 million people, an increase of 3.3 million people (or 64%) from 30 June 2007.

3235.0 Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2007. Released 19/08/2008.

The estimated resident population of Victoria at 30 June 2007 was 5.20 million people. The Melbourne Statistical Division (SD) was home to about three-quarters (73.1%) of the Victorian population, or 3.81 million people.

The median age (the age at which half the population is older and half is younger) of Victorian residents was 36.1 years for males and 37.7 years for females. Melbourne had the lowest median age (36.1 years) of all Victorian SDs, while the highest were in East Gippsland (43.1 years) and Wimmera (42.8).

The Local Government Areas (LGAs) with the highest median ages were Queenscliffe (B) (53.4 years), Strathbogie (S) (47.5) and Yarriambiack (S) (46.6), all in regional Victoria. LGAs with the lowest median ages were Melbourne (C) (27.9 years), followed by Melton (S) (31.4) and Wyndham (C) (32.5) on Melbourne's growth fringe.

3307.0.55.001 Divorces, Australia, 2007. Released 29/08/2008

In 2007, there were 47,963 divorces granted in Australia, with 49.3% of divorces involving children. The 2007 Australian crude divorce rate was 2.3 per 1,000 estimated resident population, declining from 2.7 in 2003. The median age for males granted divorce was 44.2 years, compared with 41.3 years for females. The median length of marriage to separation was 8.9 years. In Victoria, courts granted 11,833 divorces in 2007.

4102.0 Australian Social Trends, 2008. Released 23/07/2008

'Australian Social Trends' (AST) covers the key areas of: population; family and community; health; education and training; work; economic resources; housing; and other areas of social concern like transport and communication. Most chapters in this edition contain articles with a regional focus.

Australians are now more likely to have broadband or consult a complementary health professional, and took on bigger mortgages as house values rose. In the eight years to 2006-07, internet connections jumped fourfold from 16% to 64% of Australian homes.

The number of people visiting a complementary health professional (most commonly a chiropractor, naturopath or acupuncturist) increased by 51% in the ten years to 2005. Almost 750,000 people had visited this type of professional across Australia in a two week period.

Recent first home buyers' (with a mortgage) average mortgage debt more than doubled in real terms from $105,400 in 1995-96 to $212,700 in 2005-06 (average annual increase 7.3%). In Australia during 2005-06, the average value of homes of recent first home buyers with a mortgage was $310,000. During the 10 years to 2005-06, first home buyers were now less likely to buy a newly built home (14%, down from 23%) and more likely to buy townhouses or apartments (27%, up from 15%).

In 2006, 19% of adults in capital cities (excluding Darwin) used public transport to get to work or education, up from 16% in 1996. Three-quarters used cars as their main form of transport, with another 5% walking or cycling. Sydney (26%) had the highest level of public transport use, while Canberra (8%) had the lowest.

4183.0 Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2006-07. Released 07/08/2008

Total government funding for cultural activities was $5.6 billion in 2006-07, a rise of 2.6% on the previous year. The Australian Government contributed $1.9b (33.9%) to total cultural funding, while state and territory governments contributed $2.6b (46.8%) and local governments $1.1b (19.3%). Broadcasting and film continues to be the largest recipient of funds, with funding of over $1.2b (22.1% of total cultural funding) from Commonwealth, State and Territory governments combined.

The Victorian government spent $559.5m on funding for cultural activities in 2006-07. The Performing arts received substantial funding, with music receiving $52.9m or 9.5% of Victorian government funding for cultural activities. Film and video also received funding of $31.3m (5.6%) from the Victorian Government.

4610.0.55.007 Water and the Murray-Darling Basin: a statistical profile, 2000-01 to 2005-06. Released 15/08/2008. First Issue

The Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) covers 1,059,000 sq km or 14% of Australia's land area. Most of the Basin's area is located in New South Wales (597,926 sq km or 56% of the Basin's area) and Queensland (259,313 sq km or 24%). Victoria accounted for 129,761 sq km (12.3%) of the MDB, which equates to 60% of Victoria's total area. The 2005-06 ABS Agricultural Census found that 84% of MDB land is owned by businesses engaged in agriculture. Modelling by the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) has identified that 67% of the MDB is used for growing crops and pasture. In 2005-06, temperatures recorded in the MDB were up to 2°C hotter than average. In Aug 2006, there were 2,004,560 people living in the MDB, or 10% of Australia's population. Some 38% of Australia's farmers resided in the MDB.

4618.0 Water Use on Australian Farms, 2006-07. Released 27/08/2008

Australian agricultural water use decreased by 27.1% from 11,689 gigalitres (GL) in 2005-06 to 8,521 GL in 2006-07. This was driven by a decrease in the use of water for irrigation of crops and pastures, primarily rice and cotton. Over the year, total water use by Victoria's 37,429 agricultural businesses declined 31.0% to 1,823 GL in 2006-07. Water to irrigate pasture for grazing remained the major use of irrigation water in Victoria (902GL, or 55% of the Victoria's irrigation water use), despite declining by 40% from 2005-06.

4625.0 Farm Management and Climate, 2006-07. Released 12/09/2008. First Issue

Nationally in 2006-07, 65.6% of agricultural businesses reported that they considered the climate affecting their holding has changed and 62.4% reported that the perceived change in climate had an impact on their holding. Some 49.5% of agricultural businesses reported a change in the management practices on their holding in response to perceived changes in climate. In Victoria, 74.2% of agricultural businesses felt the climate has changed. A decreased level of production was the most commonly reported impact in all states and territories, ranging from 90.3% of businesses reporting an impact in Victoria to 66.4% in the Northern Territory. Queensland and New South Wales (58.5% and 58.0% respectively) reported the largest increase in frequency or extent of pests, weeds or disease on their holding as a result of a perceived change to climate, while Northern Territory reported the lowest (45.8%). Victoria (58.0% of all agricultural businesses) had the highest reported rate of change in management practice in response to climate, and Northern Territory (14.9% of all agricultural businesses) the lowest.

8106.0 Not-for-profit Organisations, Australia, 2006-07. Released 05/08/2008. First Issue

In 2006-07, Australia's 40,976 registered not-for-profit organisations received $74.5 billion. The main recipients of this income were organisations undertaking education and research (22%), social services (16%) and culture and recreation (16%) activities. Religious organisations accounted for 21.3% (8,743) of all not-for-profit organisations, followed by culture and recreation organisations (20%, 8,214). The primary sources of income were funding from federal, state and local government (34%), income from services (29%), and donations, sponsorship and fundraising (9%).

Not-for-profit organisations employed 884,476 people. Social services organisations accounted for 27.2% (240,667 people) of total employees, followed by education and research organisations (24.4% or 216,211 people). Permanent full-time employees accounted for 40.8% (360,850 people) of total employment, followed by permanent part-time 33.5% (296,554 people) and casual employees 25.7% (227,072 people). In addition to paid employees, there were over 2.4 million volunteers during 2006-07.

8126.0 Information and Communication Technology, Australia, 2006-07. Released 07/10/2008

The Information and Communication (ICT) Industries Survey collects data on production and distribution of ICT goods and services by businesses in Australia. The latest ICT survey was conducted in respect of 2006-07. A number of improvements have been made to the 2006-07 survey from the previous cycle, including: introduction of ANZSIC 2006 (industry classification), extension of survey scope to include non-employers, and collection of a state and territory split of income from the sale of goods and services.

8153.0 Internet Activity, Australia, Jun 2008. Released 22/09/2008

At the end of June quarter 2008, there were 7.23 million subscribers to the internet in Australia: 1.02 million business and government subscribers and 6.21 million household subscribers. There were 5.66 million non dial-up subscribers, or 78% of all internet connections, compared with dial-up subscribers of 1.57 million. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) continued to be the dominant access technology used for non dial-up subscribers, with 3.94 million, or almost 70% of all non dial-up subscribers. DSL connections increased 6% since December 2007. Wireless technology increased nearly 90% in six months, with over 809,000 subscribers at end June 2008, compared with 433,000 subscribers at end December 2007. The number of cable, satellite and other non-dial-up technology connections have remained fairly stable. Connections with download speeds of 1.5Mbps or greater increased to 3.10 million or 43% of all subscribers, compared to 2.47 million or 36% of subscribers at end December 2007. Data includes subscriber counts by state and territory, and volume of data downloaded by access technology.

8167.0 Selected Characteristics of Australian Business, 2006-07. Released 19/09/2008.

This is the third release from the 2006-07 Business Characteristics Survey (BCS) and presents summary data for a selection of topics including: business structure, business performance, business use of information technology, business innovation, business finance, business markets and competition, and barriers to business activities or performance.

8221.0 Manufacturing Industry, Australia, 2006-07. Released 26/08/2008.

In all but one of eight headline measures, the Australian manufacturing industry showed growth in 2006-07 when compared to 2005-06. Sales and service income increased by 12%, industry value added by 9%, wages and salaries by 7%; although employment declined by 0.2%.

The Australian manufacturing industry incurred $58.6 billion in total labour costs during 2006-07. Food product manufacturing accounted for $10.1b (17%), followed by Machinery and equipment manufacturing with $7.2b (12%). The subdivision showing the largest proportional and absolute increase in wages and salaries was Primary metal and metal product manufacturing (up 14% or $0.5b).

Overall, $99b of Industry Value Added was produced by the manufacturing industry in 2006-07, up $8.0b (9%) on 2005-06. Sales and service income of the Australian manufacturing industry in 2006-07 was $377.9b, an increase of $39.8b (or 12%) on 2005-06. At end June 2007, an estimated 1,014,080 persons worked in manufacturing. New South Wales accounted for 29% of sales and service income for all Australian manufacturing, ahead of Victoria (28%), Queensland (19%) and Western Australia (14%).

8415.0 Mining Operations, Australia, 2006-07. Released 22/07/2008

The Australian mining industry showed significant growth in 2006-07 compared with 2005-06. Sales and service income increased by 17% and industry value added by 22%. The mining industry paid 21% more in wages and salaries than in 2005-06, and its employment rose by 7%.

Between 2005-06 and 2006-07, sales and service income of the selected mining industry (coal mining, oil and gas extraction, metal ore mining and non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying) increased in all states and territories. Western Australia recorded the largest increase, rising $8.1 billion (20%) to $48.9b. The largest percentage increase in sales and service income occurred in Tasmania (56%), increasing by $0.4b to $1.0b. Northern Territory (40%, or $1.0b) also showed a large increase.

8679.0 Television, Film and Video Production and Post-Production Services, Australia, 2006-07. Released 22/07/2008

During 2006-07, commercial television broadcasters generated $6.8 billion income. Commercial free-to-air television broadcasters generated 66.5% of this total ($4.5b), with their main source of income the sale of airtime ($3.6b or 79.7% of total income earned by these businesses). Subscription fees ($2.0b or 86.5%) were the main income source for subscription television broadcasters. News, current affairs, sport, light entertainment and variety programs accounted for almost three-quarters ($986 million) of total costs for productions made primarily for television ($1,366m) in 2006-07.

Collectively, commercial free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters employed 10,032 people, at end June 2007. The majority (69.6% or 6,980 people) were employed by commercial free-to-air television broadcasters. Permanent full-time employees accounted for 72.9% (5,086 people) of employment by commercial free-to-air television broadcasters. New South Wales accounted for 42.6% (2,970 people) of total employment and 48.7% ($2.2b) of income for commercial free-to-air television broadcasters. Victoria accounted for 20.5% (1,431 people) of total employment and 21% ($950.1m) of total income.

9208.0 Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia, 12 months ended 31 Oct 2007. Released 28/08/2008

This release contains statistics on passenger vehicle, motor cycle, truck and bus use for characteristics such as distance travelled, tonne-kilometres and fuel consumption. The survey measured total distance travelled and tonne-kilometres for each state/territory of registration by type of vehicle.

In the 12 months ended 31 October 2007, there were an estimated 14.8 million vehicles registered in Australia, a four year increase of 1.6 million vehicles (12.1%) on 2003. Motor vehicles registered in Australia travelled an average of 14,600 kilometres per vehicle in the 12 months ended 31 October 2007, while those registered in Victoria (15,100 kilometres) exceeded the average. Victorian registered vehicles travelled a total of 57.9 billion km in 2007. Passenger vehicles (78.0%) made up the largest group of registered vehicles in Australia during 2007, followed by freight vehicles (18.0%). The remainder (4.0%) comprised buses, motor cycles and non-freight carrying trucks. Of the freight vehicles, 82.4% were light commercial vehicles, 14.8% were rigid trucks and 2.8% were articulated trucks. Of the 30,047 million litres of fuel consumed by motor vehicles over 12 months, 62.8% was petrol and 31.2% was diesel.
Information papers, research papers and classifications

1216.0 Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), July 2008. Released 26/09/2008

The ASGC is a hierarchical classification system of geographic areas, and consists of a number of interrelated structures. It provides a common framework of statistical geography that enables the production of statistics which are comparable.

1216.0.15.001 Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) - Electronic Structures, 01 July 2008. Released 17/07/2008

This product contains four comma delimited text files showing the levels and hierarchy of ASGC structures: Main Structure, Statistical Region Structure, Statistical District Structure and Local Government Area Structure.

1216.0.15.002 Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Concordances, 01 July 2008. Released 17/07/2008

The product contains four separate concordance files; including CD, SLA and LGA relationships within the ASGC. These files are comma delimited and include metadata information that shows the file format.

1234.0 Australian Standard Offence Classification (ASOC), 2008 (Second edition). Released 01/08/2008

This Classification (ASOC) has been developed for use within Australia for the production and analysis of crime and justice statistics. It supersedes the first edition of ASOC (1997). The objective of ASOC is to provide a uniform national statistical framework for classifying criminal behaviour in the production and analysis of crime and justice statistics.

1254.0.55.001 Australian and New Zealand Standard Product Classification (ANZSPC), 2001. Ceased.

ABS recently decommissioned the Australian and New Zealand Standard Product Classification (ANZSPC) as the Australian statistical standard for products. The ANZSPC was produced in 2001 as a collaboration between ABS and Statistics New Zealand. The ANZSPC was intended to become the statistical standard for collection and presentation of product statistics in both countries. However, recent reviews of product classifications, focusing on the use of ANZSPC within the ABS, found that:

• ANZSPC has not been adopted widely within the ABS, rather a range of collection-specific classifications have been developed;
• a range of product classifications are required to account for different conceptual bases such as industry of origin, end use and material composition; and
• ANZSPC is no longer internationally comparable given the impending release of Central Product Classification (CPC) V2.0.

ABS plans to adopt the international CPC V2.0 as the overarching framework for product classifications. That is, product classifications used within ABS will concord with CPC V2.0 to at least 3 digit level. The CPC is a multi-purpose classification covering all goods and services, and recent developments to increase the level of detail and comparability with other international standards have positioned it to fulfil the function of an over-arching reference classification for Australia and New Zealand.

1259.0.30.001 Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Digital Boundaries (Intercensal), Australia, 2008. Released 17/07/2008

This product contains digital boundaries current for ASGC Edition 2008 (date of effect 1 July 2008). The digital boundaries are presented in MapInfo Interchange Format and ESRI Shapefile Format, and based on datum GDA94. It includes boundaries of Local Government Areas, Statistical Local Areas, Statistical Divisions, Statistical Subdivisions, States, Statistical Districts, Major Statistical Regions, Statistical Regions and Statistical Region Sectors. These boundaries are intended for import and display in GIS and desktop mapping packages.

1292.0 Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 1.0). Released 19/09/2008

This publication provides details of minor revisions to ANZSIC, 2006 (cat no. 1292.0). This is the first revision to the classification since its release in February 2006. ABS and Statistics New Zealand jointly developed this classification to improve the comparability of industry statistics between the two countries and with the rest of the world. This revision is to ensure the classification remains current. With the on-going implementation of ANZSIC 2006, including its use in statistical collections, some areas of classification required further clarification. Revisions to ANZSIC 2006 are minor; maintaining the scope, concepts and structure. This update concentrates on revision of primary activities to capture new and emerging activities, clarifies class definitions to overcome practical difficulties in implementation, and corrects minor errors and omissions.

See also '1292.0.55.004 Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification ANZSIC 2006 (Revision 1.0) - Index of Primary Activities, 2006 (Revision 1.0)' (Released 19/09/2008). This Index is an alphabetic list of activities identified in the ANZSIC 2006 publication, with their corresponding ANZSIC (industry) codes.

4655.0.55.001 Information Paper: What are Environmental Accounts?, 2008. Released 19/09/2008. First Issue

The notion of accounting for the environment is becoming increasingly popular and the term can be used in a number of ways to mean a variety of things. There has been a shift in policy focus away from considering the economy, society and the environment as separate issues, to a more integrated approach to decision-making. Environmental-Economic Accounts provide a framework for an integrated information system to support this broader policy focus.

4902.0 Australian Culture and Leisure Classifications, 2008 (Second Edition). Released 16/07/2008

These classificatios are part of an ABS commitment to develop national standards for culture and leisure information. They comprise three separate classifications, covering culture and leisure related industries, products and occupations. They focus on how culture and leisure activities are linked to the economy through direct expenditure and employment.

5514.0.55.002 Local Government Purpose Classification, 2008. Released 20/08/2008. First Issue

This classification provides a framework for classifying financial transactions made by local government authorities for general public services, public order, safety, economic affairs, environmental protection, housing, community amenities, health, recreation, culture, religion, education and social protection.
Other releases

1006.0 Forward Work Program, 2008-09. Released 18/07/2008

1352.0.55.096 - Research Paper: Sample Design Issues for National Surveys of the Indigenous Population (Methodology Advisory Committee), Jun 2008. Released 04/09/2008. First Issue

2069.0.30.007 Census of Population and Housing: Estimated Resident Population Profile Datapack, 2006. Released 28/08/2008. First Issue

3105.0.65.001 Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2008. Released 05/08/2008

3416.0 Perspectives on Migrants, 2008. Released 20/08/2008

4445.0 People with a Need for Assistance - A Snapshot, 2006. Released 05/08/2008. First Issue

4510.0 Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2007. Released 26/06/2008

4528.0 Personal Fraud, 2007. Released 27/06/2008

4837.0.55.001 Health of Mature Age Workers in Australia: A Snapshot, 2004-05. Released 29/07/2008. First Issue

5352.0 International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics, 2007. Released 30/07/2008

5501.0.55.001 Government Financial Estimates, Australia, 2008-09. Released 26/08/2008

6224.0.55.001 Labour Force, Australia: Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Families - Electronic Delivery, Jun 2008. Released 17/07/2008. Reissue

6269.0 Information Paper: Labour Force Survey Sample Design, Nov 2007 (Second edition). Released 25/07/2008

6463.0 Analytical Living Cost Indexes for Selected Australian Household Types, Jun 2008. Released 27/08/2008

7104.0.55.001 Agriculture in Focus: Farming Families, Australia, 2006. Released 12/08/2008. First Issue

7123.2.55.001 Agricultural State Profile, Victoria, 2006-07. Released 22/08/2008

7503.0 Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2006-07. Released 31/07/2008

8109.0 Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations, Australia, 2006-07. Released 29/07/2008

8127.0 Australian Small Business Operators - Findings from the 2005 and 2006 Characteristics of Small Business Surveys, 2005-06. Released 06/08/2008

8155.0 Australian Industry, 2006-07. Released 08/10/2008

8158.0 Innovation in Australian Business, 2006-07. Released 22/08/2008

8175.0 Counts of Australian Business Operators, 2006 to 2007. Released 01/10/2008. First Issue

8226.0 Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services, Australia, 2006-07. Released 09/07/2008