Embedding the APS Values: Case studies and other supporting material

Please note: These documents are for reference purposes only and are no longer considered by the APS Commission to be current. They may contain good practice advice and/or advice on the transitional arrangements between the 1922 and 1999 Public Service Acts.

globe Useful references

Case study 15:
Australian Bureau of Statistics:
Independent statistical services

Background

The Australian Bureau of Statistics's (ABS's) mission is to help and encourage informed decision making, research and discussion within governments and the community, by providing a high-quality, objective and responsive national statistical service.

The ABS has earned an excellent reputation, both at home and abroad, for providing a statistical service of quality and integrity. The ABS's commitment to an independent statistical service is fundamental to ensuring its integrity- a core ABS principle.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 (ABS Act) is a key element in establishing the independence of the ABS and the Australian Statistician. The ABS Act established the ABS as a statutory authority and vests in the Australian Statistician control of its operations.

The ABS Act requires that the Australian Statistician be appointed by the Governor-General for a fixed period (usually seven years). Furthermore, the Australian Statistician can be removed from office only by the Governor-General on the advice of both houses of the parliament and only on the grounds of either misbehaviour or incapacity.

Description

The ABS's commitment to providing and maintaining a statistical service of quality and integrity is demonstrated in a number of ways.

The ABS statistical system is open. The ABS sets and publicises, in advance, the dates for the release of all its statistics. The ABS decides what to publish, and then does so in ways which explain and inform, without advocating a particular position. In issuing statistics, the ABS adheres to long-established principles that results of statistical collections should be made available as soon as practicable and should be available to all users at the same time. Pre-embargo access to statistics is limited to relevant ministers and their departments under publicly known and strictly controlled arrangements. The ABS ensures equal opportunity of access to statistics by the community, business and governments through releasing statistical results on its website, through public libraries and in the media.

The integrity of ABS statistics is built on its professional and ethical standards. The ABS contributes to the development of international standards, and uses them to produce conceptual frameworks and standards for Australian statistics. The ABS also works with other national and international agencies to ensure that relevant statistical standards and concepts are applied as widely as possible so that statistical outputs from all agencies are consistent and of good quality.

ABS methodologies, frameworks, quality assurance processes and measures are transparent. They are based on sound statistical and methodological practices and principles and are widely disseminated through publications, information papers, conference papers and journals. Proposed changes to methodology are discussed with clients and significant changes are made known well in advance of implementation. The ABS is also open about the quality of its statistics, so that users can better understand and interpret them.

The ABS maintains close contact with its users through a variety of mechanisms, including advisory committees, user groups, outposted statistical officers, conferences and seminars, and day-to-day contact in the course of disseminating statistical information. This contact informs the development of the ABS's work program. The threeyear forward work program is developed after extensive consultation with relevant user groups and is finalised in the light of advice from the Australian Statistics Advisory Council (ASAC), which was established under the ABS Act.

The forward work program describes for each ABS program the resources, outputs, clients and uses of the statistical information and the proposed main developments over the three-year period. The forward work program is freely available and is published on the ABS website.

The ABS Act requires the Australian Statistician to report to parliament annually on the operations of the ABS.

It also requires ASAC to submit to the minister for presentation to parliament a report on matters connected with the operation of the ABS Act.

Key APS Values

The APS is apolitical, performing its functions in an impartial and professional manner. (s. 10(1)(a) of the PS Act)

The APS is openly accountable for its actions, within the framework of Ministerial responsibility to the Government, the Parliament and the Australian public. (s. 10(1)(e) of the PS Act)

For more information please contact:

PAUL SULLIVAN
PHONE 02 6252 7809
paul.sullivan@abs.gov.au