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FOREWORD

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) have undertaken the National Agricultural Statistics Review (NASR) to consider all aspects of the current agricultural statistical system and assess its capacity to inform decision making.

Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries are increasingly knowledge-driven, and access to timely, high-quality statistical information is of critical importance to stakeholders across government and industry. However, there are a number of issues limiting the efficiency and effectiveness of the agricultural statistical system to meet these needs, which may cause constraints on the competitiveness and productivity of the industries themselves.

The NASR has provided an opportunity for the ABS and ABARES, as the principal producers of agricultural statistics, to hear directly from other statistical users and producers across government, industry and the research sector about these issues, and to identify opportunities to address them. Through the NASR, the two organisations have identified a pathway to establish a contemporary, best practice Australian agricultural statistical system for the future. The NASR has also enhanced the relationship between the two agencies and paved the way for further collaboration to provide stronger and more effective leadership across the system. There are opportunities for partnerships with other statistical users and producers to better coordinate effort and investment, and to work collaboratively to improve data quality and reduce respondent burden across the system.

The ABS and ABARES would like to thank the organisations and individuals who engaged with the review, contributed their views, and committed to improving agricultural statistics into the future. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with stakeholders across the system to build an effective and enduring agricultural statistical system.