Chapter 2: Year in Review: 2023–24

During 2023–24, the Minister responsible for the ABS and ASAC was the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury.

The ASAC Annual Report 2022–23 articulated the priorities for 2023–24 as:

1. Advise on the ABS work program under resource constraints.
2. Assist in clarifying ABS roles and responsibilities within an evolving data landscape.
3. Assist in building and maintaining community trust.
4. Advise on opportunities.
5. Monitor and advise on the 2026 Census program.

The Council held three meetings during 2023–24: July 2023, November 2023, and March 2024 (see Appendix 2 for meeting agendas).

At each ASAC Meeting, the Council received reports from the Australian Statistician on relevant ABS business. The Council received frequent updates on the comprehensive review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) which aims to better reflect the contemporary labour market. Council members were encouraged to provide feedback through the various consultation rounds which informed the development of proposed changes to the classification.

At the July meeting, the Australian Statistician reported that, over the past 18 months, the ABS has been reviewing its operating model. The Council noted there would be no direct impact on clients or deliverables and the majority of ABS staff will not be affected by this change. The benefits of the new operating model will include: removing unnecessary duplication and double-handling; consolidating like functions to better leverage innovation and delivery; and ensuring the ABS’ priorities are well understood right through the organisation and reflected through resource allocation and management. The Council understood that the new structure would be launched in mid-August 2023.

At the November meeting, the Council considered the ABS’ intention to cease the Retail Business Survey and Retail Trade publication after the June 2025 reference period (publication date of August 2025). The Council noted enhancements to the monthly household spending and business turnover indicators will provide users with a more comprehensive view on household consumption and eliminate the need for businesses to respond to the Retail Business Survey. The Council advocated for continued stakeholder engagement prior to the Retail Business Survey and Retail Trade publication ceasing in June 2025. 

At the November meeting, the Council noted the ABS internal budget pressures affecting the ABS work program. Council members agreed it would be useful to understand the framework and processes the ABS uses to prioritise outputs. The ABS agreed to put forward a paper on this topic and at the March meeting the Council considered the ABS Enterprise Planning Process. The Council noted the progress in this area and the challenges around balancing timeliness, quality and cost. The Council encouraged the ABS to consider opportunities to collaborate with external partners or agencies to deliver products the ABS has decided to cease or does not deliver. The Council also provided suggestions on what publications could cease or be published by others.

Additionally, at the November meeting, the Council considered the challenges of estimating net interstate migration (NIM). The Council noted the ABS will conduct a mid-point intercensal review to reduce any error accumulating over the entire intercensal period and is also exploring whether driver licence data might provide additional improvements to population estimates. Both the implementation of the intercensal review and further investigation of driver licence data require significant investment, and the ABS does not have the capacity to pursue both. 

At the March Meeting, the ABS sought agreement from the Council that ABS resources should be focused on the intercensal NIM review. The Council considered the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) driver licence data, including its shortcomings, and recommended the ABS focus on progressing the intercensal NIM review. The Council commended the ABS for the work being undertaken to improve the estimated resident population.

During 2023–24 the Council advised the ABS on emerging statistical challenges and opportunities across the jurisdictions and sectors represented. The Council continued to report housing and cost of living were a priority and that any further information the ABS could produce would be appreciated.

At the July meeting, a joint paper from the ABS, Department of Finance and Digital Transformation Agency was presented to the Council on the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy and the accompanying Implementation Plan. Council members discussed their views on the Strategy and ideas for potential data and digital initiatives for inclusion in the Implementation Plan. The Council also advocated for a collaborative approach to developing the Strategy focusing on consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. Council members were encouraged to submit feedback throughout the public consultation process.

At the March meeting, the Australian Statistician outlined the error in enrolment projections data that the ABS supplied to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for use in the redistributions of electoral boundaries in Victoria and Western Australia. The error was corrected, and new data supplied quickly, with the AEC confirming that the redistribution process continued with its planned timetable.

The Council noted the Australian Statistician commissioned former Australian Statistician Dennis Trewin AO to undertake a review to examine ABS processes to reduce the possibility of similar errors occurring in the release of ABS statistics and to advise of potential areas of risk in current processes.

Mr Trewin’s review, which was published on the ABS website, made several recommendations specific to the enrolment projections process as well as some general lessons to strengthen and reinforce the importance of quality managements arrangements within ABS. These findings will be combined with those from an internal audit of statistical quality gates which the ABS had commissioned before this incident.

The Council requested an update be provided at a future meeting to understand the actions being undertaken to maintain users’ trust and confidence in ABS outputs.

During 2023–24 the Council advised the ABS on emerging statistical challenges and opportunities across the jurisdictions and sectors represented. The Council continued to advocate for more detailed statistics capturing changes in the housing market and other cost of living pressures.

At the July meeting, the Council noted the outcomes for the ABS from the 2023–24 Budget, specifically:

• Phase 2 of the Big Data, Timely Insights program which will produce new important data, including a complete monthly measure of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and transition key data assets and statistical methods to the ABS secure cloud environment.
• The Life Course Data Initiative (LCDI) which will provide access and link new administrative data assets to improve data coverage over the early stages of people’s lives with the aim of generating a better understanding of entrenched disadvantage.
• The rephasing and augmenting of the 2026 Census budget which will better reflect when funding is needed to support a more modernised and digital Census for 2026 and into the future.

The Council congratulated the ABS on its successful Budget outcomes and expressed its appreciation of the announcement of a complete monthly measure of the CPI, which will commence in late 2025.

During 2023–24 the Council received regular updates on the LCDI and considered how the ABS will use LCDI data to produce official statistics, develop new methods for identifying household and family structures, and indices of entrenched disadvantage. Jurisdictional Council members were encouraged to make a submission to partner with the ABS. At the March meeting, it was announced the ABS would be partnering with ACT government to deliver the LCDI, and collaborating with SA government and University of Adelaide to link the Better Evidence, Better Outcomes, Linked Data (BEBOLD) to the Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA) for LCDI analysis.

At the November meeting, the Council discussed how the ABS has utilised Generative AI (ChatGPT) to assist with some low-risk work in the development of the new ANZSCO classifications, which has resulted in greater efficiency and cost savings. The Council noted this work was undertaken after consideration of the legal, ethical, security and quality aspects of the work.

At the July meeting, the Council was provided with an update on the two-phase public consultation process as part of the review of 2026 Census topics. The Council noted the ABS would be publishing a report on 27 July 2023 on the outcomes of the first phase of consultation, including the topics shortlisted for inclusion or change or being considered for removal, and launch the second phase of public consultation. Council members considered the opportunities to use administrative data to add value to the Census. 

At the November meeting, the Council was provided with an update on the preparations for the 2026 Census, noting preparations are in full swing and progressing well. The ABS highlighted the Census content consultation review had seen strong interest and the demand for new topics was greater than can be accommodated in the Census. 

The Council noted the 2026 Census Phase 1 Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) commenced in early 2023 and was finalised in September 2023. The PIA report and ABS response were published on the ABS website. The Council noted the report highlights the tension between the views of those who desire greater access to and use of the Census and others who are uncomfortable with and are opposed to any changes to past ABS practices.