WHAT ARE OFFICIAL STATISTICS?
Official statistics are defined as those statistics produced by government departments and agencies, and include statistics collected by surveys or from administrative systems.
Official statistics tell us how our society is working and progressing. They are also fundamental to open government, providing a window through which the work and performance of government can be seen, revealing the scale of government activity in every area of public policy, and allowing the impact of public policies and actions to be assessed – by both government itself and by the community more generally.
The availability of trusted statistical information to inform public debate and enable effective decision-making is fundamental to transparent government and democracy. As the world becomes more complex and interconnected, the importance of quality, accessible and timely information on Australia’s changing circumstances increases.
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