INTRODUCTION
1 This publication presents a statistical summary of key economic and some social information for regional areas in South Australia. It brings together a wide range of existing ABS and some non-ABS data and has been designed, at a broad level, to assist users of regional statistics to understand the composition and structure of a region, to understand how a region contributes to the state's economy and to help monitor the trends in economic growth or decline. The data are presented for Local Government Areas, Statistical Subdivisions and Statistical Divisions. Included are historical as well as the latest available data, at the time of preparation, enabling comparison over time and between these regions.
2 The statistics included in this publication are sourced from a wide variety of collections, both ABS and non-ABS. When analysing the data care needs to be taken as time periods, definitions, methodologies, scope and coverage will differ. Some main data concepts and definitions are included below. For more detailed information, including technical notes, please refer to the relevant source publications that are listed in the Bibliography.
REFERENCE PERIODS
3 The data presented relate to the period 1996-1997 to 2002-2002. As the data are referenced from a wide variety of sources the reference period relating to many of the indicators differ. For simplicity only a single calendar year number has been used in row and column headings. This calendar year number refers to the latter year for those data items collected over two years. For example, data for the financial year 1999-2000 are shown under the heading '2000' while data collected for the year ended 31 March 1999 are shown under the heading '1999'.
REGIONS
4 The regions specified are Local Government Areas, Statistical Subdivisions and Statistical Divisions as defined in Statistical Geography: Volume 1-Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2002 (cat. no. 1216.0). LGAs are legally designated areas over which incorporated local governments have responsibility. Areas of the state not covered by these incorporated bodies are also included in this publication (unincorporated). Statistical Subdivisions and Statistical Divisions are defined, in broad terms, as socially and economically homogeneous regions characterised by identifiable links between the inhabitants. In South Australia SSDs consist, for the most part, of aggregations of Local Government Areas, while one or more SSDs make up an SD. The Statistical Division is the largest and most stable spatial unit. The relationship between SDs, SSDs and LGAs is shown on page 2.
5 All data presented have been calculated on Statistical Division, Statistical Subdivision and Local Government Area boundaries current as at 30 June 2002 (i.e. 1997 data are shown for the boundary current at 30 June 2002). Where boundary changes have occurred or data have been collected for different spatial areas such as postcodes, concordances have been used to 'convert' the data to the specified region's boundary at 30 June 2002.
6 While care was taken in producing the concordances, they are not an official ABS product and the ABS will not guarantee the accuracy of all concorded data. No liability will be accepted by the ABS for any damages arising from decisions or actions based upon the data.
7 In applying the concordances it is assumed that the particular characteristics of any data item are uniformly distributed across the spatial area.
SELECTED DATA ITEMS
Population estimates
8 This publication contains estimates of the resident population for Statistical Divisions, Statistical Subdivisions and Local Government Areas in South Australia. The estimates are based on Census counts in census years while estimates for other years are calculated using a mathematical model. Figures are shown to the nearest unit without rounding, but accuracy to the last digit is not claimed and should not be assumed. For a more detailed description of the methodology refer to Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand (cat. no. 3218.0).
Births and deaths
9 Birth statistics are presented on the basis of the LGA of usual residence of the mother, regardless of where in Australia the birth occurred or was registered. The data refer to births registered during the financial year shown and are compiled from data provided to the state's Registrar.
10 Death statistics are presented on the basis of the LGA of usual residence of the deceased, regardless of where in Australia the death occurred or was registered. The data refer to deaths registered during the financial year shown and are compiled from data provided to the state's Registrar.
Labour force estimates
11 The labour force estimates shown are produced by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) using the Structure Preserving Estimation (SPREE) methodology. The estimates have been derived using the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (Centrelink) statistics of persons in receipt of unemployment benefits (i.e. Newstart allowance) and ABS population and labour force estimates by labour force regions. While these estimates may need to be revised from time to time, revised estimates are only produced for the previous four quarters. Hence care should be taken when interpreting data presented in a time series.
12 The estimates at the small area level are highly volatile and are not seasonally adjusted or trended. Comparisons from quarter to quarter can be misleading and may not be a true reflection of the actual labour market situation. A detailed description of the methodology used is presented in the DEWR quarterly publication Small Area Labour Markets, Australia.
Income support customers
13 The figures shown under the heading 'Income support customers' have been compiled by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (Centrelink). The social service system in Australia forms a vital part of the Government's social justice strategy. It provides income support for people who are retired, have a disability or medical condition which prevents them from working, are unemployed, have children in their care or are not in a position to provide for themselves because of special circumstances. It also provides a framework to support access to employment for those with the ability to participate in the workforce.
14 The statistics compiled by Centrelink on their customers are classified according to the postcode district in the postal address held on departmental records. The figures shown in this publication have been converted from postcode areas to SDs, SSDs and LGAs using geographic concordances based on estimated resident population data. Further information can be obtained in the publication Department of Family and Community Services, Income Support Customers-a statistical overview.
Building approvals
15 Statistics of building work approvals are compiled from: permits issued by local government authorities and other principal certifying authorities; contracts let or day labour work authorised by Commonwealth, State, semi-government and local government authorities; and major building activity in areas not subject to normal administrative approval e.g. building on remote mine sites.
16 The statistics included in this publication relate to: all approved new residential buildings valued at $10,000 or more; and all approved non-residential building jobs valued at $50,000 or more.
17 Excluded from the statistics are: approved alterations and additions to residential buildings; and construction activity not defined as building (e.g. construction of roads, bridges, railways, etc.).
Property sales
18 The statistics shown under this heading have been compiled from data provided by the Department of Administrative and Information Services (DAIS), Land Services Group, Office of the Valuer-General.
19 The statistics included only relate to sales for which payment was received equivalent to the full value of the property, and have been shown according to the land use categories prescribed by the Local Government (Land Use) Regulations, 1989.
Agriculture
20 The agricultural data presented have been sourced from the Agricultural Census (for the years 1996 and 1997 and 2001) and from the Agricultural Commodity Survey (for the years 1998 to 2000). For this reason care needs to be taken when comparing Census and survey data. Prior to 2000, these statistics were collected for the years ended 31 March. Since 2000, the reference point has been 30 June. However a study of respondent data indicates that there is no significant difference in estimates arising from the change in reference period.
21 The estimates, from the Agricultural Commodity Survey (for 1998 to 2000), are based on information obtained from a sample drawn from the total farm population in scope in the collections, and are subject to sampling variability; that is they may differ from the figures that would have been produced if all farms had been included. Similarly, since information is not obtained from all selected farms for Agricultural Census years, these estimates may also differ from those that would have been produced if all farms had responded. One measure of the likely difference is given by the standard error (SE), which indicates the extent to which an estimate might have varied by chance when not all farms have responded, i.e. when a 'sample' of responses only is obtained. There are about 2 chances in 3 that a sample estimate will differ by less than one SE from the figure that would have been obtained if all farms had responded, and about 19 chances in 20 that the difference will be less than two SEs.
22 In this publication, sampling variability of the estimates is measured by the relative standard error (RSE) which is obtained by expressing the SE as a percentage of the estimate to which it refers. If an estimate is identified by a single asterisk (e.g. *2) the RSE lies between 25% and 50%.
23 The value of agricultural commodities produced is derived by multiplying quantity data by price or unit value data. All price data is obtained from non-ABS sources such as marketing boards, wholesalers, brokers and auctioneers.
24 The data presented for 1997 to 2000 have been concorded to align with 2002 boundaries using geographic concordances based on September 1998 agricultural business location counts obtained from the ABS Business Register.
Local government finance
25 The source data from which local government finance data are derived are reported by local government authorities in accordance with accounting standards AAS27. (Note: The introduction of new local government accounting regulations in 1993-94 has resulted in a less complete allocation of overheads to infrastructure outlays.)
26 For the purpose of determining the scope of local government finance statistics a local government authority is defined as: an authority set up under a local government Act to carry out the functions of local government in a defined area (known as a municipality or district council) the members of which are elected by persons enrolled as electors for the House of Assembly in respect of an address within the area, or who are ratepayers in respect of rateable property within the area. A body corporate is enrolled under the name of a nominated agent; or an authority created or acquired by a local government authority (as defined above) or by two or more local government authorities (in South Australia an authority established under Part XIII or Section 199 of the Local Government Act 1934).
Motor vehicle registrations
27 New motor vehicle registration statistics are obtained monthly from the state's motor vehicle registration authority and reflect the information recorded in registration documents. The figures shown in this publication have been derived by converting postcode information to information for LGAs, SSDs, and SDs using geographic concordances based on estimated resident population data.
28 The types of motor vehicles included in these statistics are passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, rigid trucks, articulated trucks, non-freight carrying trucks and buses.
Income
29 The taxable income data has been sourced from the annual Australian Taxation Office publication and CD-ROM Taxation Statistics. The statistics are compiled from individual tax return forms and are presented in aggregate form for the residential postcode address of the taxpayers. The figures shown in this publication have been derived by converting the postcode information to information for Statistical Divisions and subdivisions and LGAs using geographic concordances based on estimated resident population data.
OTHER FORMS OF USAGE
30 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
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