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100 Years of Statistics
The various events held through the year to mark the first one hundred years of operation of the ABS culminated in a centenary birthday celebration on 8 December 2005. On this date in 1905 the Census and Statistics Act came into force allowing the establishment of the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, the predecessor organisation to the ABS.
Over the last hundred years the breadth and depth of ABS statistical output has expanded dramatically. An initial focus on population, trade and production statistics was followed in the 1930s and 40s by the development of new economic statistics that gave a more complete picture of the economy. More recently attention has been given to statistics on social conditions and the state of the environment. From a handful of publications each year the ABS now makes over 1000 statistical releases annually.
The centenary was marked by the release of an official history of the ABS called "Informing a Nation" and the WA Office held functions with clients and a staff reunion to celebrate the milestone. The reunion was very successful attracting over 300 former and current staff.
ABS Corporate Plan
The ABS has released a new Corporate Plan setting out the directions the organisation intends to pursue over the next few years.
A key feature of the Plan is for the ABS to play a stronger leadership role in the national statistical system. This role recognises that there is an increasing range of government and private bodies providing statistics to the public and there is much to be gained from working with these agencies to provide better statistics for all.
Another objective in the Plan is to improve our engagement with clients and improve our responsiveness to their requirements.
The Corporate Plan also reinforces the key ABS values of integrity, relevance, trust of respondents, equal access to statistics, service and professionalism.
Christmas 2005
I would like to wish you a safe and happy Festive Season from all of us at the ABS, WA Office. See you again in the New Year.
Alan Hubbard
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