Today, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, The Hon. Chris Pearce MP, was one of the first to download a free copy of an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication. “This is a historic outcome for an informed community and it’s pleasing to see the realisation of this recent Federal Government initiative”, said Mr Pearce.
The internet download of publications and tables from the ABS - covering most aspects of the Australian economy and society - has been made free on their web site (www.abs.gov.au) from 11.30am today.
"This is a good day for Australia," Mr Pearce said. "With more than four million internet users throughout the country, I expect that many businesses, community organisations, schools, non-government organisations and citizens will be able to better inform themselves about the economy and our society.
"This morning, for example, I was able to download and print my own copy of the latest "Building Approvals" publication. In future, people will be able to access publications of their choice including the very popular Consumer Price Index, Labour Force and International Trade publications and print them in their own home or office.
Mr Pearce said the ABS expected that its web site use, which is currently about 50 million page views per year, would receive a large boost as a result of the new policy. The ABS's email notification system that alerts clients to new material on the web site means that interested people will be aware of and able to download new publications within minutes of it being released.
Members of the public will still be able to use the ABS's e-commerce facility to buy their own printed publications if they prefer to receive them that way.
1 July 2005
MELBOURNE
Contact:
Gillian Harvey: (03) 9887 3890 or 0411 567 060