Information Publication Scheme

The ABS provides the following information in accordance with the IPS established under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). More information about the IPS can be found on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.

The ABS’ Information Publication Scheme Agency Plan describes how we will comply with the IPS. 

The ABS is Australia’s official national statistical agency. We operate within a framework that includes the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 (ABS Act) and the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

The ABS is led by the Australian Statistician, a statutory office established under section 5 of the ABS Act. Dr David Gruen AO has served as the Australian Statistician since 2019.

Further information on the ABS’ organisational structure is available in our Organisation Chart and Senior Staff Biographies.
 

The ABS’ primary functions, duties and powers are defined in the:

•    Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975, which establishes the ABS as an independent statutory authority and legislates our main function as the central statistical authority. It also establishes the Australian Statistics Advisory Council (ASAC) as the key advisory body to the Minister and ABS.

•    Census and Statistics Act 1905, which empowers the Australian Statistician to collect and publish statistical information. It also provides the Statistician with the authority to direct a person or organisation to provide statistical information if necessary.

•   Census and Statistics (Information Release and Access) Determination 2018, which allows the Statistician to release information collected under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 when specific conditions are met.

Statements outlining how we will meet public and Government expectations when performing our survey functions can be found at Our Commitments page.

For other guidelines and policies that the ABS uses, please refer to Legislation and policy.
 

The ABS’ annual report provides a detailed description of the ABS' activities each financial year, accounting for our use of public resources and performance against planned outcomes.

The ASAC annual report provides information about the Council's activities for each financial year.
 

For detailed information on our responses to requests and orders from the Parliament, as well as the ABS’ tabling obligations, visit our Documents Tabled in Parliament page.

The ABS’ FOI disclosure log contains all information released in response to FOI requests received since 1 November 2010. For more information see the FOI page.

The ABS Consultation Hub outlines our public consultations. 

The ABS announces opportunities to comment on proposed changes and statistical releases in the ABS media centre.
 

Contact us at [email protected] for access to agency information or documents under FOI Act. 

The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how we will handle any personal information that you provide.