The Australian Capital Territory Information Development Plan 2008 to 2011 (IDP) has been developed jointly by the ACT regional office of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the ACT Government, the IDP recognises the key role that quality statistics play in informed decision making within governments, business and the community. The IDP was signed June 5 by Andrew Cappie-Wood, Chief Executive, ACT Chief Minister's Department, and Brian Pink, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The IDP will provide a high level strategic framework within which the ACT government and the ABS can collaborate to improve the quality and availability of statistical information for the ACT, while protecting confidential information. Ten key activities for collaboration have been agreed to advance the IDP.
The ABS and the ACT government recognise that good quality data will contribute to the national statistical service and assist ACT Government departments develop effective policies and programs. Government administrative and private transaction record databases are seen as a key source of statistics, with survey-based collections used to supplement, calibrate and bridge gaps in these data.
The ABS and ACT Government recognise each other as partners in developing and improving statistical information, and will continue to collaborate in this work. An Information Development Steering Committee, chaired by the ACT Chief Minister's Department has been established to implement and monitor the IDP.