About the program
Overview
The ABS’ future as a reliable and responsive provider of critical information to the nation hinges on executing a 10-year modernisation vision to replace its legacy Information Technology (IT) systems. In the 2023-24 Budget, the ABS received $156.3 million over the next four years to continue the implementation of this 10-year plan and deliver the Big Data, Timely Insights: Phase 2 program (BDTI2).
The program builds on the success of Big Data, Timely Insights: Phase 1 which delivered foundation capabilities in the cloud environment and paved the way for this next phase. BDTI2 will deliver more timely and reliable information for decision-makers and the community, maximising the value that ABS data provides. It will also enable the ABS to produce important new data, including a complete monthly measure of the CPI.
BDTI2 is the next phase in our modernisation journey that will support the transition of key data assets to a secure cloud environment, allowing the ABS to reduce risks it currently faces to the production and accuracy of Australia's key economic statistics.
Program outcomes
Better and timelier statistics and insights
- Production of a complete monthly measure of the CPI by late 2025.
- Supporting more responsive monetary and fiscal policy and aligning Australia with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Twenty (G20).
- Supporting more granular analysis of inflation impacts on households and the economy.
Reduced statistical and delivery risk
- Key economic statistics are produced using contemporary systems and processes.
- Cease use of aging systems used for processing the CPI, Quarterly Business Indicators Survey (QBIS) and an additional three business collections.
- Reducing the level of manual intervention in statistical processing.
Increased security
- Sensitive and protected data is processed and held in secure systems, providing increased resilience to cyber-attacks.
- Improving security for commercially sensitive private sector data and ABS market-sensitive statistics.
Increased efficiency and improved capability
- Creating tools and patterns in the cloud that will be reused by other statistical programs and agencies.
- Creating standardised data analytic tools for re-use across all ABS business surveys.
- Scaled use of cloud platform without increasing support costs, by enabling self-service.
- Demonstration of a scaled cloud environment pattern for other agencies.
- Development and use of more common data and technology skills across the ABS and APS.
Delivering key government priorities
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Description
The program will deliver four outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Better and timelier statistics and insights
- Outcome 2: Reduced statistical and delivery risk
- Outcome 3: Increased security
- Outcome 4: Increased efficiency and improved capability.
The four program outcomes will deliver on the following Government priorities:
- Better quality and timelier cost of Living data
- Building a more resilient economy through more informed monetary and fiscal policy
- Better use of data to improve policy and decision making
- Lift the capability and capacity of the APS.
Keeping up to date
If you are interested in sharing your perspective on this program or have a question, please send an email to: big.data.timely.insights@abs.gov.au.