The Australian Bureau of Statistics
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 8 December 1905 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Headquarters | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Employees | 2,824 (at June 2015) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executive | |
| Website | www |
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is the statistical agency of the Government of Australia. The ABS provides key statistics on a wide range of economic, population, environmental and social issues, to assist and encourage informed decision making, research and discussion within governments and the community.
The ABS website provides ABS data free of charge.
In 1901, statistics were collected by each state for their individual use. While attempts were made to coordinate collections through an annual Conference of Statisticians, it was quickly realised that a National Statistical Office would be required to develop nationally comparable statistics.
The Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics (CBCS) was established under the Census and Statistics Act in 1905. Sir George Knibbs was appointed as the first Commonwealth Statistician. Initially, the Bureau was located in Melbourne and was attached to the Department of Home Affairs. In 1928, the Bureau was relocated to Canberra and in 1932, it moved to the Treasury portfolio.
Initially, the states maintained their own statistical offices and worked together with the CBCS to produce national data. However, some states found it difficult to resource a state statistical office to the level required for an adequate statistical service. In 1924, the Tasmanian Statistical Office transferred to the Commonwealth. Unification of the state statistical offices with the CBCS was finally achieved in the late 1950s under the stewardship of Sir Stanley Carver, who was both NSW Statistician and Acting Commonwealth Statistician.
In 1974, the CBCS was abolished and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) was established in its place. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Act in 1975, established the ABS as a Statutory Authority headed by the Australian Statistician and responsible to the Treasurer.
The ABS mission is to deliver high quality official statistics and value-added statistical solutions, to inform decisions on important issues. The ABS articulates their vision as "Unleashing the power of statistics for a better Australia"
The ABS values work in conjunction with the broader Australian Public Service (APS) values and include Impartiality, Commitment to Service, Accountability, Respect and Ethical Behaviour.
From 2015 an investment of $250 million over five years by the Australian Government is being used to modernise ABS systems and processes, with the aim of delivering the best possible statistical program in more efficient and innovative ways.
The ABS undertakes the Australian Census of population and housing. The Census is conducted every five years under the authority of the federal Census and Statistics Act 1905.
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