2000-01 has been a most successful year for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Key issues and outcomes for the ABS during the year have been:
- preparation for the 2001 Census of Population and Housing;
- significant progress in expanding and improving the national statistical service particularly in the area of rural and regional statistics;
- significant changes to statistical systems to measure the impact of The New Tax System (TNTS) and to take full advantage of the statistical opportunities arising from the introduction of TNTS;
- introduction of the 14th series Consumer Price Index;
- introduction of a range of new statistical products and services, and extending information and products available via the ABS website;
- publication of a special Federation issue of the Year Book;
- release of a number of important reference publications on concepts, sources and methods;
- participation in, and significant contribution to, a range of international statistical developments and issues including the discussions of the United Nations Statistical Commission, and provision of technical assistance programs to the Asia-Pacific region; and
- successful negotiation with staff for a new Certified Agreement for human resource arrangements for the next two years.
These developments are expanded upon below.