About the program

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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

The four program outcomes will deliver key government priorities

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.