Economic and statistical research
The Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR) is the principal economic, demographic and social research agency for the Queensland Government. It provides whole-of-Government economic and statistical research services, including statistics, modelling and data management to support major Government initiatives and priorities.
Our clients
OESR provides services to Queensland Treasury, all other Queensland Government agencies and the Queensland public sector, with significant cost recovery from clients, and to other federal jurisdictions. We also provide ‘public good’ services, primarily statistics and other information, to the Queensland community.
Structure
- Under Treasurer, Gerard Bradley
- Deputy Under Treasurer, Tim Spencer
- Government Statistician, Dr Peter Crossman
- Director, Antony Skinner
- Assistant Government Statistician (Statistical Policy), Tim Barker
- Assistant Government Statistician (Surveys), Penny Marshall
- Assistant Government Statistician (Information Products and Services), Greg Pole
- Assistant Government Statistician (Business Services), Sarah Sawyer
- Assistant Government Statistician (Coordination), Anneke Schmider
- Government Statistician, Dr Peter Crossman
- Deputy Under Treasurer, Tim Spencer
Key issues facing the output
- Continuing demand for timely and high quality State and regional statistics to support key Queensland Government and national initiatives that meet the needs of our growing population.
- The need to support the development of Treasury’s analytical capabilities to inform positions on economic reform issues and developments in macroeconomic conditions so the Queensland Government can meet the challenges of the future.
- Increasing demand for surveys and other statistical analysis to contribute rigorous evidence to Government programs which underpin Queensland Government priorities.
- Effective delivery of cross-sector collaboration to improve the collection and delivery of statistics and strategic information for the benefit of the Government and community.
- Further improvement to policies that help coordinate Queensland statistical activities to complement work on the proposed National Statistical Service across Australia.
Vision
Knowledge leaders for smarter decision making.
Mission
To support Government and community outcomes through our outputs of data, coordination, intelligence and research.
Output performance highlights
| Measure | Target | Actual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | |||
| Survey, data processing or data construction projects | 70 | 581 | |
| Data dissemination outputs including official publications, client reports or databases | 150 | 1272 | |
| Formal written briefings or reports provided to key clients on economic, statistical and spatial issues | 100 | 2063 | |
| Number of internet hits on OESR website | 900,000 | 900,000 | |
| Number of hits on Data Hub homepage | 25,000 | 25,957 | |
| Collaborative projects undertaken with or sponsored by other teams in Government or external researchers | 25 | 154 | |
| Development and coordination of whole-of-Government policy issues or relations with organisations in other jurisdictions (number of projects) | 45 | 1725 | |
| Factual answers to requests for information | 3,000 | 2,6786 | |
| Quality | |||
| Successful external quality audits | 100% | 100% | |
| Stakeholder and client satisfaction with outputs (rated satisfied or very satisfied) | 90% | 100%7 | |
| Timeliness | |||
| Delivery of outputs within timeframes agreed with clients (excludes internet services) | 90% | 95%7 | |
| Location | |||
| Briefings and reports delivered to clients outside Treasury Office | 50% | 90%5 | |
| Cost | |||
| Revenue from fee-for-service outputs | $4.6M | $5.6M1 | |
Variances
2. Reorganisation of projects and outputs following a restructure of documents.
3. Increase in demand for information.
4. Increase in demand for services in other areas of OESR outputs and increase in size of some projects e.g. Garnaut Climate Change Review.
5. Counts sub-projects rather than projects.
Our business priorities
Business priority
Enhance statistical survey capabilities for data collection and evaluation.
- Client focus secures survey excellence
In 2007–08, we experienced increased demand from Queensland Government agencies for statistical surveys to inform Government planning and service delivery. To better meet these demands, we improved our data processing techniques by using more efficient processing and automation packages.
By forging strategic relationships with key Government agencies, we were not only able to meet their information needs but exceed their expectations for high-quality statistical surveys, evaluation and analysis.
We also conducted continuous quality improvement reviews of the Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) collection system, and continued to meet industry best practice standards to further improve and enhance the efficiency of survey data collection for our clients.
In the year ahead, we will continue to refine and improve our CATI system, survey processing and automation packages, and work with our clients in Queensland Government agencies to ensure our surveys facilitate effective policy making and service delivery.
Business priority
Commence economic research into the drivers of productivity in Queensland.
- Economic modelling looks at climate change
Climate change will most likely have a significant impact on most aspects of our economy, including productivity. In 2007–08, OESR’s microeconomic modelling team was seconded to the Garnaut Climate Change Review to model the impacts of unmitigated climate change on the Australian economy. This research provides rigorous quantitative analysis to assist the Queensland Government’s negotiations with the Federal Government on the design of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
In 2008–09, we will advise the Queensland Government about the economic implications of policies focused on climate change in Queensland, and the productivity challenges these present. This will lead to more informed economic debate on the subject.
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Estimating Queensland’s productivity growth
We estimated the capital stock of all states and territories and were then able to calculate estimates of the contributions of multifactor productivity (working smarter) and capital deepening (using capital better) to labour productivity growth in Queensland since the mid 1980s.
This provides, for the first time, a cross-sectional view of Australia’s productivity performance, and provides Treasury with an understanding of Australia’s relative productivity growth.
Looking forward to 2008–09, we will continue to develop and extend these estimates to help the Queensland Government’s focus on strong economic fundamentals.
Business priority
Broaden the dissemination of statistical decision support systems across the Queensland Government.
- Statistical systems support informed decision making
By establishing a dedicated Statistical Information Systems Team in 2007–08, we were able to increase the range of statistical information systems used by Queensland Government agencies to make decisions, design policy and allocate resources.
In the year ahead, the team will oversee the further development and maintenance of these statistical decision support systems, and promote and demonstrate their benefits for evidence-based planning and decision making across the Queensland Government.
We also expanded the Department of Communities’ Statistical Information System and developed a pilot system based on Indigenous communities for the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.
In 2008–09, we will integrate these two systems to provide a rich source of small area data that will guide policy making and service delivery for Indigenous communities in most need.
Business priority
Extend statistical networks across the Queensland Government in collaboration with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
- Statistical networks assist infrastructure and service planning
In 2007–08, we continued to support existing statistical networks in Queensland (e.g. crime statistics and Statistical Liaison Officer networks) while developing new networks in areas that require improved information coordination (e.g. Indigenous statistics).
We also developed strategic relationships with key statistical agencies, including the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), to increase awareness of the availability of statistical tools and data, and improve statistical literacy to facilitate informed decision making and resource allocation at both the federal and state levels.
In 2008–09, we will further develop our networks to provide the Government with statistics from a wide range of groups to help meet the service demands of Queensland’s expanding population. We will continue to support these networks in the regions of the State.
We will continue to contribute to the national statistics agenda through our work on the Australian Statistics Advisory Council and the State Statistical Forum. We will also continue to work closely with the ABS Regional Office to strengthen Queensland’s statistics for the benefit of the Queensland Government.
Business priority
Collaborate with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in delivering the Queensland node of the National Data Network.
- Managing Queensland’s information resources
In collaboration with academic partners at the Queensland University of Technology, we developed an information licensing system – the Government Information Licensing Framework (GILF) – based on the creative commons concept in 2007–08. Now available for all government information sets including statistics, the new framework enables Queensland Government data custodians to licence their data in a simple and legally secure way.
In 2007–08, we also further advanced understanding of the need for simple, comprehensive and effective metadata registries to allow potential users to determine what statistics may be available for use.
In 2008–09, we will continue to expand the use of GILF throughout Queensland and will explore its application in other jurisdictions, including the ABS. We will also continue to develop frameworks and practical examples to advance the compilation of metadata registries, which are expected to underpin future national data network developments.
Rental property vacancy rates, June quarter 2008
Analysis: A sample survey of real estate agents conducted by OESR revealed rental property vacancy rates were lowest in the Brisbane region relative to the rest of Queensland.
Assessing climate change impacts on economy
OESR Senior Economist Matthew Clark (left) and Principal Economist Greg Watts (right) worked with Professor Ross Garnaut (centre) to examine the economic impacts of climate change.
Economic modelling is a powerful tool for assessing how specific events impact on the economy. Policy and decision makers use these findings to plan strategies to meet challenges.
In 2007–08, OESR’s Microeconomic Team worked as part of the Garnaut Climate Change Review team on a project to examine the impacts of climate change on the Australian economy.
Commissioned by Australia’s Commonwealth, state and territory Governments, Professor Ross Garnaut’s Review will recommend medium-to-long-term policies and frameworks to improve Australia’s prospects for sustainable prosperity given climate change challenges.
The team estimated how human-induced climate change might affect the economy in the absence of effective national and international efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. They also examined how international policy reform might be able to counter the impact of climate change, and the costs and benefits of national and international policy interventions on Australian economic activity.
Professor Garnaut said the research had produced a ‘powerful story’ to share with Australian communities.
“Without the work of OESR, our work and the Australian community’s understanding of the economic dimensions of the climate change story would be incomparably poorer,” he said.
In the first half of 2008–09, the OESR team’s partnership with Professor Garnaut will continue, focussing on issues of climate change policy reform.
Last reviewed 5 November 2008
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