Budget supports modernising statistics and wellbeing survey

Media Statement
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Released
15/05/2024

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has welcomed important investments in its work program included in the 2024-25 Budget. 

A key announcement is $52.7 million over five years to continue modernising ABS operations as well as expanding a range of vital data and insights. With this essential investment, we can keep improving key aspects of our business, including: 

  • Modernising how we source and collect data with a range of benefits including improving the experience of people responding to surveys.
  • Delivering an expanded General Social Survey on an annual basis to provide timely insights on the wellbeing of Australians. 
  • Replacing the Business Register legacy systems with a cloud-based product which will provide additional data on small business and more timely insights on business formation and resilience. 

The ABS will receive $0.5 million to create a new early childhood education and care cost index. Working with the Department of Education, this index will measure how the actual costs of delivering childcare services are changing over time. 

New funding will also go towards delivering a high-quality and trusted 2026 Census, with $187.8 million allocated over three years from 2024-25. The additional investment will ensure the 2026 Census will be an easy and secure experience for all Australians. The ABS will continue to improve the efficacy of operations, with a reduction in the cost per capita (real terms) for a third consecutive Census.   

The Budget invests $1.3 million over four years from 2024-25 to develop new data assets, supporting the Government's Competition Review, and providing greater ongoing visibility of merger and acquisition activity in the economy. 

These investments signal confidence in the ABS' ability to produce high-quality, trusted statistics, and support our leadership in building Australia's data capabilities.

Media notes

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