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ABS Centenary
From the Commonwealth Government buildings in 1905 in Melbourne to ABS House in Canberra today, the ABS has consistently served the nation by the gathering, analysis and dissemination of independent official statistics. This includes the conduct of 14 population censuses as well as regular production of household name statistics like Labour Force and Consumer Price Index. Locally the ABS continues to support informed decision making and provides fora to identify and discuss State statistical needs, both currently and for future planning. The ABS will be celebrating the Centenary throughout the year.

Western Australia’s Population reaches 2 million
Western Australia's population reached 2 million during the week commencing 10 January 2005. This population milestone now forms part of Western Australia's demographic history. As the calculation used to determine population growth takes into account all the information that we have available from births, deaths, interstate and overseas arrivals and departures, and the 2001 Population Census, it was not feasible to determine who exactly the 2 millionth Western Australian would have been. However, it could have been a person born around that time, a person who arrived as a permanent settler in Western Australia, or an Australian returning home after living overseas. The state reached its first million in 1970.

State Statistical Forum
The State Statistical Forum held in February focussed on new and ongoing statistical priorities that were common to several states. The Statistician provided detailed responses on these needs to the state representatives attending the Forum. David Smith from the Department of Treasury and Finance represented Western Australian interests. Planned improvements to statistics on natural resource management, water accounts, tourism and the state accounts were all addressed in the Statistician’s response. Statistical priorities raised by WA government agencies that were not covered by the Forum will be pursued by the WA Office.

Census 2006 Planning
A detailed plan for the Census Operations in Western Australia has now been completed. Once this plan has been approved by ABS management, the next step will be to build the local Census management team.