Our outputs
Economic and statistical research
The Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR) is responsible for delivering economic and statistical research output. This output reports on economic and statistical research activities including whole-of-Government collection, collation, interpretation, analysis and dissemination of high quality economic and statistical information, as well as modelling, research activities and specific information and data management services for major initiatives and whole-of-Government priorities.
Vision and mission
Vision
Knowledge leaders for smarter decision making.
Mission
To support Government and community outcomes through our outputs of data, coordination, intelligence and research.
Structure
Deputy Under Treasurer Tim Spencer
- Office of Economic and Statistical Research
- Government Statistician Dr Peter Crossman
- Deputy Government Statistician Antony Skinner
- Acting Assistant Government Statistician Dr Jill Charker
- Assistant Government Statistician Tim Barker
- Acting Assistant Government Statistician Greg Pole
- Acting Assistant Government Statistician Sarah Sawyer
- Acting Assistant Government Statistician Greg Watts
- Government Statistician Dr Peter Crossman
Output performance highlights
| Measures | Target | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | ||
| Survey, data processing or data construction projects | 60 | 80 |
| Data dissemination outputs including official publications, client reports or databases | 140 | 140 |
| Formal written briefings or reports provided to key clients on economic, statistical and spatial issues | 140 | *80 |
| Number of Internet hits on OESR web site | 1.95M | 1.35M |
| Number of hits on Data Hub home page | 30,000 | 25,000 |
| Collaborative projects undertaken with or sponsored by other teams in Government or external researchers | 70 | 25 |
| Development and coordination of whole-of-Government policy issues or relations with organisations in other jurisdictions (number of projects) | 70 | 15 |
| Number of statistical standards or guidelines published | 25 | 15 |
| Factual answers to requests for information | 3,500 | 3,200 |
* The decrease is primarily attributed to the change in the way deliverables are counted compared with the method used in previous years.
Highlights
| Strategic business priority | Highlights | The year ahead |
|---|---|---|
Maintain and enhance rigorous economic and social research agendas. |
Completed economic models, analysis and advice to assist Tourism Queensland in policy development and decision making. |
Continue to develop quantitative, policy-relevant research for clients across the Queensland Government. |
Maintain and enhance a suite of economic and statistical models to improve Government decision making. |
Completed major economic and statistical modelling in the Queensland energy and rail sectors and the juvenile justice system. |
Promote the availability, transparency and use across Government and the general community of methodologies and standards to further develop a knowledge-sharing and modelling capacity for the Queensland Government. |
Enhance statistical surveys capability. |
Completed major surveys, including the gambling survey program, Queensland Household Survey program, youth surveys, and a youth longitudinal survey. |
Continue to improve statistical methodologies for the analysis of longitudinal data and the conduct of large-scale surveys. |
Coordinate the activities of key providers of statistics to establish and maintain an integrated and consistent statistical service across governments. |
Enhanced the Register of Strategic Information to provide greater access to, and use of, data across Government. Encouraged the optimisation of spatial information resources through the Queensland Spatial Information Council. |
Continue to promote whole-of-Government statistical activities and information management to reduce duplication and improve information sharing across all Queensland Government agencies. |
Encourage the use of effective electronic access to data and information services. |
Improved the OESR website to include a thematic mapping tool. Hosted nine Smart Business Solutions Seminars Series to showcase best practice in the use of information management technologies. |
Continue to expand and enhance information services across the State. Promote the national census to be undertaken in August 2006. Realise information technology efficiencies in sharing common electronic systems with whole-of-Treasury. |
Survey, data processing and data construction projects
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Actual | Target | Actual | Target | Actual |
| 30 | 85 | 90 | 69 | 60 | 80 |
Analysis: As OESR continues to enhance statistical surveys capability, requests from clients are increasing, including requests for development of more web-based surveys.
Key issues facing the output
- Continuing demand for independent, timely, high quality, State and regional research, modelling, analysis and statistics to support key initiatives of Government.
- Continuing to provide information and modelling to support the development of national and State economic reform issues.
- Increasing demand for household surveys to reduce information gaps on community outcomes under the Government's priorities.
- Increasing coordination of Queensland statistical activities to complement the development of the proposed National Statistical Service and National Data Network.
- Applying and promoting protocols, and collection and delivery processes, to ensure Government, industry and the community have easy, equitable, efficient, affordable and coordinated access to critical data and associated products and services.
Strategic business priorities
Strategic business priority - Maintain and enhance rigorous economic and social research agendas.
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Shapined solutions for Queensland tourism
In 2004-05 we continued our work on the general equilibrium model for tourism in Queensland . This model can be used to analyse policies or economic shocks directly related to tourism. In addition, we developed a resource allocation model for Tourism Queensland to enhance its decision making capabilities in allocating funding to international tourist markets. During 2005-06 Treasury will train Tourism Queensland staff in the resource allocation model and conduct further research to update the tourism dataset.
Strategic business priority - Maintain and enhance a suite of economic and statistical models to further develop a knowledge-sharing and modelling capacity for Government decision-making.
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Developed and enhanced economic and statistical models
In 2004-05 we developed and further enhanced a number of models to improve our capacity to assist the Government's decision making capacity. Highlights include:
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improved the energy and transport sector models, specifically the National Electricity Market simulation model and the rail transport model
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maintained and developed collaborative partnerships with Griffith University, the Department of Communities, and the Queensland Police Service, to investigate how the community mobilises against crime incidents.
In the coming year Treasury will continue to undertake a process of improving financial models to ensure efficiency and robustness in forecasting the financial impacts of various projects on Government-owned corporations. We will continue to enhance our capacity to model coal and rail. In 2005-06 we will build on our collaborative partnerships and work closely with Griffith University , to develop a model for the adult criminal justice system which will allow the impact of Government policies and programs to be evaluated.
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Strategic business priority - Enhance statistical surveys capability.
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Conducted the Queensland Household Surveys
The Queensland Household Survey is conducted twice a year and involves asking over 6,000 Queensland householders about a range of issues including their usage of computers and the internet, management of environmental issues, awareness of legal services and energy usage in the home. The Queensland Household Survey is one of our major ongoing activities providing the Government with statistical data. It provides the Queensland Government with up-to-date information to assist in policy development and monitoring the effectiveness of Government service delivery.
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Enhanced capability in longitudinal surveys
In 2004-05 we initiated an innovative research study, the Queensland Young Adults Longitudinal Survey. The survey is a collaboration between Treasury and a number of other Government agencies and will follow a group of young adults aged 15-29 over time. It represents a valuable opportunity to capture current data on young adults and their lifestyle, education, employment, training and other social variables. The survey will provide the Queensland Government with data to inform future policy making. We will assess the survey cohort annually and continue to gather data on young adults' lives.
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Maintained program of gambling surveys
Working closely with the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation, we continued to conduct surveys assessing the gambling patterns and behaviour of Queenslanders and our work on the gambling surveys will continue in 2005-06.
Strategic business priority - Coordinate the activities of key providers of statistics to establish and maintain an integrated and consistent statistical service across State Government agencies.
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Shared information across government
One of our major achievements in this area was the collaboration with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Information Queensland (IQ) to establish agreed standards for information discovery and access, as well as provide statistical information services to the IQ website. During 2004-05 we also initiated the redevelopment of the Register of Strategic Information, which provides greater access to, and use of, data held by the Queensland Government and other jurisdictions. This year we also contributed to the implementation of the Smart Directions strategies through representation on the Strategic Information and Communication Technology Board. In 2005-06 we will continue to contribute to technical solutions for IQ to improve data discovery and information access to the public.
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Promoted spatial information
Queensland Spatial Information Council (QSIC) completed a number of activities to optimise the use of geographic information resources and to support the work of IQ and the National Data Network. This included hosting Smart Business Solutions seminars throughout the year to promote spatial information applications. In the year ahead, QSIC will continue to coordinate whole-of-Government licences and spatial information projects involving government, private industry, academia and professional associations, as well as continue to conduct the seminar series.
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Helped to measure Government effectiveness
As part of our leading role in providing statistical information, we helped to develop a statistical indicators framework to measure the effectiveness of community renewal policies and activities. We will further enhance this framework and develop Government guidelines and standards for performance management during 2005-06.
Strategic business priority - Encourage the use of effective electronic access to data and information services to enhance information services.
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Provided electronic access to data
Improvements to our website have provided the community and the Queensland public sector with greater access to a range of statistical and economic information. We have also upgraded the website to include a tool which allows the user to view statistics based on the following four themes: demographic, society, economic performance and industry. As part of the Data Hub service, hosted on the Government intranet, we negotiated a whole-of-Government licence to access ABS information. The State Digital Road Network geographical dataset service continued to be delivered to 19 Government agencies during 2004-05. Next year, we will continue our work to develop regional reporting information tools for Government and the community and encourage the use and access of electronic data resources.
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Hosted Smart Business Solutions seminars
We hosted nine Smart Business Solutions seminar series in 2004-05. Launched in 2003, the seminars showcase improved business operations resulting from the implementation and use of spatial technologies and improved information management strategies. The seminars promote the value and importance of the Queensland Spatial Information Council to the State.
The Smart Business Solutions seminar series has proven a huge success - building a strong network of information professionals both across Queensland and nationally. It has attracted audiences from a range of backgrounds, disciplines and regions across Queensland, and even interstate. Since 2003, over 2,000 people have attended the 24 seminars hosted in the series.
