1301.6.55.001 - Statistical News Tasmania (Newsletter), Aug 2004
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 09/08/2004
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ABS SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE HOBART OFFICE Cessation of hard copy publication As users may be aware by now, the June 2004 edition of Tasmanian Statistical Indicators (cat. no. 1303.6) was the final hard copy issue. The decision to discontinue the paper-based product was made in light of the very small subscription numbers and the relative costs of production. This is good evidence that the publication was barely successful in fulfilling its intended role. However, the ABS remains committed to providing a latest key-indicators type resource for Tasmania. In line with the ABS strategy of using the web as its main dissemination medium, a web-based product is being developed. This will potentially provide the user with more timely data availability, linkages to source and related data, together with an infinitely greater circulation compared to a subscription-based system. The precise format and content of the product are still currently under consideration, but to help us determine what these indicators are to be, we are seeking your assistance. If there is data that you use and would like to see included in the product, or if you would like to discuss the availability of existing data on the web please contact Adam Czapracki on (03) 6222 5839 or email adam.czapracki@abs.gov.au. Your input will be greatly welcomed. End of an era Tasmanian Statistical Indicators (TSI) has been published under its current name since 1988, but has actually existed in various iterations for more than half a century. Originally released in July 1945 under the name 'Monthly Summary Statistics', it was renamed and expanded in January 1988 to include data from other discontinued Tasmanian publications. It has undergone various reviews, content and format changes, and other improvements since then, but subscription numbers have dwindled in recent years as the volume and accessibility of data on the web has improved. It will join the Tasmanian Year Book (now Statistics - Tasmania) and Regional Statistics, Tasmania (now Regional Statistics - Tasmania) in becoming a freely accessible web-based product.MAIN ECONOMIC INDICATORS Did you know that.... All of the products listed below are available from the ABS website. The product number is the same for publications, time series and datacubes unless otherwise indicated. If you would like more information on any of the items mentioned please contact ABS Client Services or email mary.eagle@abs.gov.au. 5206.0 Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product ( quarterly) Detailed presentation of quarterly national accounts showing both current price estimates and chain volume measures in original, seasonally adjusted and trend terms. State details for components of state final demand are also included. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1959 for national data and from the mid 1980s for state level data. 5302.0 Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (quarterly) Provides detailed quarterly balance of payments tables on current, capital and financial transactions for the latest six quarters, including seasonally adjusted, trend and chain volume measures of the current account. It also provides a complete international investment position statement with details of the level of investment, investment flows and associated income. Detailed information is also provided on Australia's foreign debt. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data. Balance of payments and exchange rates data are available back to 1959. Most international investment data is available back to 1976 with merchandise exports and imports on a recorded trade basis available back to 1985. 5368.0 International Trade in Goods and services (monthly) Provides estimates for 15 months of the major aggregates for, and the balance on, international trade in goods and services (balance of payments basis) in both seasonally adjusted and trend estimates terms. Merchandise trade data are provided by country and by state. Data on exchange rates and analytical comments are included. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1984 for goods and services and 1988 for merchandise export and import data. 5609.0 Housing Finance, Australia (monthly) Contains time series data for secured and unsecured housing finance commitments for owner occupation, commitments for the construction or puchase of dwellings for rent or resale, and loans outstanding to individuals/households for housing. State and territory data available in publication. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1984. Spreadsheets include more state data.5625.0 Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure, Australia (quarterly) Preliminary estimates derived from a sample survey of private businesses. Contains estimates of actual and expected new capital expenditure by type of asset (new buildings and other structures/equipment, plant and machinery) and by selected Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification industries. Statistics available for Australia and by state/territory. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from June 1989. 5671.0 Lending Finance, Australia (monthly) Contains time series data on the value of monthly commitments for secured housing finance, other personal finance, commercial and lease finance. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from June 1984. Spreadsheets contain state data from 1985. 5676.0 Business Indicators, Australia (quarterly) Contains quarterly estimates of profits, income from the sale of goods and services, wages and salaries, and the book value of inventories. These data are classified by broad industry. State/territory data is also included for sales, wages and salaries, in current price terms. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data back to 1984/1985. 6202.0 Labour Force, Australia (monthly) Summary results of the monthly Labour Force Survey containing estimates of employed and unemployed persons classified by sex, full-time/part-time status, states and territories and some age groups; and persons not in the labour force. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data back to 1978. The product number for the time series spreadsheets is 6202.0.55.001. There are also annual, quarterly and monthly datacubes available for this data with the product number 6291.0.55.001. 6302.0 Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (quarterly) Contains estimates of average weekly ordinary time earnings and average weekly total earnings for full-time adult employees and average weekly total earnings for all employees, classified by sector and state or territory and by industry at the Australian level, for males, females and persons. Unpublished estimates by industry groups at state and territory level are available on request. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1983. 6345.0 Wage Cost Index, Australia (quarterly) The Wage Cost Index (WCI) is a pure price index designed to measure changes over time in wage and salary rates of pay. Individual indexes are published for various combinations of state and territory, public and private sectors, broad industry groups and broad occupation groups. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1997/98. 6416.0 House Price Indexes: Eight capital Cities (Quarterly) Provides estimates of changes in housing prices in each of the eight capital cities of Australia. The information is presented in the form of price indexes constructed separately for established houses and for project homes. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1986.7218.0.55.001 Livestock and Meat, Australia (Electronic Publication) (monthly) Provides current monthly data of the number of livestock slaughtered and meat produced by state, for the categories; cattle and calves; sheep and lambs; and pigs. Includes seasonally adjusted and trend totals as well as original series. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1984. 8301.0 Manufacturing Production, Australia (quarterly) Provides quarterly estimates of production quantities for 26 major indicators, including food, wood products, fuels, building materials and metals. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1956. 8501.0 Retail Trade, Australia May 2004 (monthly) Contains monthly estimates of turnover for retail and selected service establishments. Volume measures are published quarterly classified by state or industry. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1984. 8731.0 Building approvals, Australia May 2004 (monthly) Provides the number and value of dwelling units approved by sector (public/private) and by state, number and value of new other residential dwelling units approved by type of building, and the number and value of non-residential building jobs approved by type of building (i.e. by function such as 'retail and wholesale trade', 'offices') and value ranges. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1984. There are also datacubes available which provide state data by statistical local area. 8755.0 Construction Work Done, Australia, Preliminary Presents preliminary statistics for the value of construction work done in Australia. Separate data is shown for building work done and for engineering work done for both the private and public sectors. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data from 1958. 9314.0 Sales of new Motor vehicles, Australia (Electronic Publication) (monthly) Contains monthly information on sales of new motor vehicles in each state/territory sourced from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Time series spreadsheets are available for this data under the product number 9314.0.55.001 from 1994.MESH BLOCKS - A NEW GEOGRAPHICAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR THE 2006 CENSUS Across its statistical collections the ABS uses a common standard for geographical areas known as the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC). Local Government Area is a key spatial unit of the ASGC. Within an LGA, the smallest building block of the ASGC is the Census Collection District (CD), typically comprising 100 to 220 households. CDs are commonly used for detailed spatial analysis of Census data at the local level. CDs are however subject to certain constraints and consequently they do not always coincide, in shape and size, with areas of interest such as neighbourhoods, electoral boundaries and various catchment area boundaries. This in turn means that census data can only be approximated for these areas. The ABS proposes to overcome this shortcoming by developing a new micro-level geographical unit known as a Mesh Block. Mesh Blocks will contain a minimum of 20 to 50 households (about one fifth the size of a CD) and will be created to align with a wide range of administrative and natural boundaries. After the 2006 census very basic census data will be available at the Mesh Block level, perhaps only number of dwellings and population counts, but a range of census data will be available for combinations of Mesh Blocks to meet clients' individual needs. Once designed and readily available, Mesh Blocks have the potential to become a new building block of Australian geography so that a government organisation, business or Local Government developing a set of regions for capacity planning, community development, service delivery or indeed any form of regionalisation, would build up its areas simply by adding Mesh Blocks together in whatever combination best suited its purpose. This in turn would ensure that census data could be accurately derived for those regions. For Mesh Blocks to fulfil their potential, however, it is vital that state and Local Governments inform the ABS on how to define Mesh Blocks in a way that would maximise their use not only for obvious statistical purposes but also as the building blocks for the other various zones and regions which are not defined for statistical purposes but for which statistical data is eventually needed. A panel of experts has advised the ABS on ideal design parameters for Mesh Blocks and an ABS position paper, Mesh Blocks (ABS Cat. no. 1209.0) was published on the ABS web site on 16 March 2004. Even though the cutoff date has now passed, (end of June 2004), feedback on the Information Paper may still be considered if lodged promptly. We look forward to your input. For further information contact Frank Blanchfield on 02 6252 7759 or email frank.blanchfield@abs.gov.auEXPERIMENTAL PRICE INDEXES FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES For some years now there has been considerable community interest in the prices paid by households for financial services. An outcome of a review of the CPI in 1997 was a commitment by the ABS to develop a price index for financial services for eventual inclusion in the CPI. This index was to be designed to cover the explicit fees and charges paid by households as well as any indirect costs embodied in interest margins. The results of the ABS's investigations are contained in Information Paper: Experimental Price Indexes for Financial Services (cat. no. 6413.0), released on 12 July 2004.ABS NATIONAL CHILDREN and YOUTH STATISTICS UNIT The third edition of Children and Youth News was released during July. Children and Youth News is designed to highlight developments in children and youth related statistics and features articles analysing data on topical children and youth issues. In addition, other information of likely interest to researchers and policy makers is presented. Interested readers are also invited to visit the Children and Youth Statistics Theme page on the ABS website for links to relevant ABS datasets and other web sites.ABS 2004 AGRICULTURAL COLLECTION PROGRAM The Australian Bureau of Statistics agriculture collection program for the 2004 cycle is well under way. For this year's Agriculture survey around 31,000 farms have been included, an increase on the 28,000 surveyed last year. It is intended the larger sample will improve the statistical quality for a number of commodities. Forms were despatched in early July and preliminary results for the main commodities will be released in late November. As well as the standard Agriculture Commodity data, this year's 20 page form includes questions on: -computer and internet use -fencing -tree planting -watering activity. The collection program also includes surveys of important farm commodities. The Vineyards annual collection is well underway with over 9,000 forms despatched to vineyards throughout Australia in May. Preliminary results are scheduled for October with the final detailed output due at the end of January 2005. The Apples and Pears collection was despatched to over 1,700 orchardists throughout Australia in mid July. Preliminary results are scheduled for mid December and final data is expected in February 2005. For further information on the Agricultural survey please contact Ken Watt on (03) 6222 5949 or e-mail ken.watt@abs.gov.auA NEW ABS PRODUCT NUMBERING SYSTEM A new ABS product numbering system will be introduced during 2004 to address deficiencies in the existing system, particularly in relation to electronic and previously uncatalogued releases. The existing ABS Product Numbering System was introduced in the 1970s and was originally applied to printed publications within a broad subject-based classification. This system has been very successful but is now "running out of numbers". A new system is to be introduced during 2004. The changes will allow the ABS to assign consistent and meaningful ABS catalogue numbers to its complete range of releases - whether they are printed titles, spreadsheets, data cubes or web pages. Previously some releases have not been assigned a number.
The format and method of dissemination of future issues of Catalogue of Publications and Products will also be reviewed. Further details about these changes will be announced in an Information Paper expected to be released later this year on the ABS web site. ANZSIC 2006 Revision to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 1993 (ANZSIC) There are plans for a significant revision to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 1993 (ANZSIC), which is used as the basis for the collection, analysis and dissemination of official government industry statistics in Australia and New Zealand. It is also widely used in administrative systems and other statistical databases. A review of the ANZSIC is being undertaken to update the current classification to one that best reflects contemporary and future views of industries. Much of the development of the 1993 ANZSIC was undertaken in the mid to late 1980s; hence, the classification no longer adequately reflects the structure of the current economy. While the changes to the ANZSIC will not be implemented for several years, decisions made during the review could impact on industry statistics you use, or on your use of the classification in your own systems. Further details about the development of ANZSIC 2006 can be found in Information Paper: ANZSIC 2006 Development (cat number 1294.0) due for release on Monday the 9th September. An information session about the implementation of the revised ANZSIC will be held in Hobart on Tuesday the 17th August. To receive further information about this session, please contact Margaret Dyas by phone (03) 6222 5847 or email margaret.dyas@abs.gov.au.SELECTED RECENT AND EXPECTED RELEASES 1363.0 Book Publishers, Australia (released 04/08/04) Contains details on financial and employment data of book publishers, as well as on industry structure, growth and numbers of books published and sold by type. 1371.0 Book Retailers, Australia 2002-03 (expected release 07/09/04) Provides details from a survey of businesses involved in the retail sale of books. The publication presents financial and employment data for businesses whose predominant activity is selling books. In addition, data is provided on the volume and sales of books by these businesses and other book sellers such as department stores and supermarkets. 1380.0.55.001 Occasional Paper: Perspectives on Regional Australia: Women's employment in Urban, Rural and Regional Australia, 2001 Census (expected release 16/08/04) This publication is the first of a series of Occasional Papers analysing a range of topics with a particular focus on Regional Australia. This paper provides an insight into the different employment conditions experienced by women in regional Australia by examining characteristics such as age, employment status, income, qualifications and industry of employment. The data is presented using the geographic classification "Section of State" which enables comparisons in employment patterns across major urban cities, medium townships, small townships and rural areas of Australia. 2053.0 Australian Census Analytical Program: Australia's Most Recent Immigrants (released 12/7/04) A comprehensive analysis of Australia's recent immigrants, including how they have adjusted to Australian conditions, their impact on the labour market, the housing sector etc. 2925.0.30.001 Historic Census Geographic Areas, Digital Boundaries Australia 1981 to 1996 (expected release 31/08/04) A CD-ROM product containing digital Census Geographic Area boundaries, for all states and territories of Australia in Mapinfo interchange format (.mid/.mif). It includes digital boundaries of Census Collection Districts (CD) for 1981,1986,1991 and 1996 along with the CD derived areas for those census years, such as Commonwealth Electoral Divisions (CEDs). 3235.0.55.001 Population by Age and Sex, Australia June 2003 (released 30/6/04) Contains the estimated resident population by age (in five-year age groups up to 85 and over) and sex for each Statistical Local Area, Statistical Subdivision and Statistical Division in Australia at 30 June of the reference year. Estimates for Postal Areas and for Population Census Collection Districts are available on request. 3236.0 Household and Family Projections, Australia: 2001 to 2026 (released 18/6/04) Projects the number of households and families in Australia by state and capital city / balance of state for period 2001 to 2026. Describes the method and assumptions used to produce these projections.3238.0 Indigenous Australians, Experimental Estimates and projections 1991 to 2009 (expected release 26/08/04) Provides experimental estimates and projections of the Indigenous population based on the 2001 Census for states and territories by five-year age groups and sex. Estimates of the June 2001 Indigenous and non-Indigenous resident population at the Statistical Local Area level by age and sex are available electronically in a datacube format. 3401.0 Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia May 2004 (expected release 13/7/04) 4102.0 Australian Social Trends 2004 (released 15/6/04) Presents statistical analysis and commentary on a wide range of current social issues. A set of international tables also compares Australia with 17 other nations. 4390.0 Private Hospitals, Australia, 2002-03 (expected release 27/08/04) Provides details about the operation of private acute and psychiatric hospitals, and free-standing day hospital facilities in Australia. Information is included about facilities (beds available, special units, etc.), activities (patient throughput, days of hospitalisation provided, bed occupancy rates), patients (types of admitted patients, outpatients and operations performed), staffing and finances. 4523.0 Sexual Assault in Australia: A Statistical Overview (expected release 24/08/04) A key conclusion of the Sexual Assault Information Development Framework (IDF - cat. no. 4518.0) was that there is a need to bring together currently available information to provide a broad, statistical view of the whole field of sexual assault. This publication does this, using the structure of the conceptual framework provided in the IDF. It includes data from selected sources listed in the IDF as well as commentary to describe sexual assault in Australia. 4611.0 Environment Expenditure, Local Government, Australia 2002-03 (expected release 25/08/04) Focuses on local governments and their role in providing environmental management for their jurisdiction. Developed from Environment Protection Expenditure Account, Australia (4603.0) and highlights financial transactions made by local government on environmental issues. 4714.0 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2002 (released 23/6/04) Presents summary results from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (formerly Indigenous Social Survey), which brings together a wide range of information about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia. 4821.0.55.001 Cardiovascular Disease in Australia: A Snapshot (released 16/6/04) A brief overview of the differentials in prevalence, risk factors, hospitalisations and trends in morbidity for cardiovascular disease in Australia using data from the 2001 ABS National Health Survey. The article also draws on data from the 2002 ABS Causes of Death collection.4822.0.55.001 Cancer in Australia: A snapshot 2001 (expected release 01/09/04) A brief overview of the differentials in prevalence, the types of cancer suffered, risk factors, and cancer screening practices, for persons living outside hospitals, nursing and convalescent homes, and hospices in Australia. Data is provided from the 2001 National Health Survey, and the 2002 ABS Causes of Death collection. 6209.0 Labour Mobility, Australia, 2004 (expected release 25/08/04) Provides information on persons aged 15-69 years who had worked at some time during the year ending February. Details of job mobility, job tenure, number of employers or businesses during the year and reason for ceasing last job or changing locality are presented. Occupation, industry and duration of current and last job are also available. Estimates can be cross-classified by labour force demographics such as state, sex, age, marital status and country of birth. 6232.0 Information paper: Questionnaires Used in the Labour Force Survey 2004 (expected release 26/08/04) Provides details of the latest Labour Force Survey questionnaire. Definitions, guidelines to following the questionnaire, identification of unemployed persons from the questionnaire and a copy of the questionnaire are included. 6354.0 Job Vacancies, Australia May 2004 (released 1/7/04) 6403.0 Average Retail Prices of Selected Items. Eight Capital Cities June quarter 2004 (expected 11/08/04) 7121.0 Agricultural Commodities, Australia 2002-03 (released 28/6/04) Provides final estimates for major agriculture outputs and activity. Contains tables and broad commentary on agriculture industry structure, area and production of crops, livestock numbers, livestock products and land management. 8501.0.55.00.002 Information Paper: Changes to the Retail Trade Series This paper describes changes to the Retail Trade series which will be implemented in the July 2004 issue of Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0). The changes will arise from the introduction of a new sample design and an improved estimation method. The changes will cause revisions to the historical level estimates but the effects of the changes on movements should be minimal. 8567.0 Hire Services, Australia 2002-03 (released 18/6/04) Contains information about hire services in Australia, with separate breakdowns provided for: plant, leasing and hiring, personal and household goods hiring, and motor vehicle hiring. Data include: income and expenditure, employment, key characteristics by state, performance ratios, and selected information broken down by business size. Limited information is also available on which sector goods were hired to, average length of hire and public liability insurance. 8635.0 Tourist Accommodation, Australia (released 8/7/04) Contains the results from the on-going quarterly Survey of Tourist Accommodation. Datacubes are available for all states and territories - 8635.1.55.001 to 8635.8.55.001.8679.0 Television, Film and Video Production, Australia 2002-03 (released 28/7/04) Contains information about the film and video production industry together with data from broadcasters within the television services industry. The data include: major sources of income and components of expenditure; characteristics of employment and state comparisons with selected information by employment size and state. Production data for film, video, other media, and television programs by type of programming format are also included. 8697.0 Performing Arts, Australia 2002-03 (expected release 27/08/04) Contains information about performing arts in Australia, with separate breakdowns provided for: music and theatre production, performing arts venues, and festivals. Data include: income and expenditure, employment, key characteristics by state, performance ratios, and selected information broken down by business size. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.
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