Strategic Planning for Statistics in Australia PARIS21/UNESCAP Forum on Strategic Planning for Statistics in South-East Asian Countries – Bangkok, June 2006 Geoff Neideck Director, Corporate Planning Australian Bureau of Statistics

Outline  Interactions with Government and Users Environmental scanning Establishing user needs Government funding processes  ABS Internal Planning Planning cycle Corporate Plan, Financial Plan, Forward Work Program

Environmental Scanning  Political priorities  Emerging economic and social issues  Community, academic, private sector  International developments

Determining User Needs  Australian Statistical Advisory Council  Bilateral meetings  Statistics user groups  Outposted officers  Information development plans  Assessing level of support for new work, particularly funding

Australian Statistical Advisory Committee (ASAC)  Provides advice to the Minister and Australian Statistician  Membership from government, business, academia, community  Advise on: Improvements to the Australian statistical service Long term priorities and work program for the ABS

Formal Interactions with Government  ABS is in the Treasury portfolio  Australian Statistician and ASAC report to parliament  Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer is the responsible minister  Government liaison unit

Obtaining Government Support  Involvement in government forums Early involvement in policy development is preferable  Garnering support from other agencies  Building case with central agencies, particularly Treasury

Understand government funding processes  What are the formal budget processes?  Have an agreed understanding of what the agency is funded for (core funding)  What are the opportunities for funding from other sources Other government agencies International/donors

Funding from other sources  Funder may attach conditions  What impact will conditions have on organisations ability to determine its future directions?  Will it compromise national priorities?  Need to retain adherence to statistical best practice  Potential to divert resources & highly skilled staff from core work

Criteria for Assessing User Needs  Essential criteria Is it consistent with ABS mission and core role? Is there a contemporary public policy need? Is the solution fit for purpose? Do we have the capacity to do the work? (e.g. funds, skilled staff)

 Criteria for prioritising competing bids How important is the issue and to whom? What are the risks and opportunities?  Budget risks  Funding support  Technology requirements Does the activity build long-term capability? Criteria for Assessing User Needs

ABS Planning Cycle - Overview Environmental scanning User input New spending proposals Corporate Plan/Strategic Directions Management Meeting Forward Work Program May July-Aug September Final Decisions on Proposals April

ABS Corporate Plan - Overview  ABS Mission Statement  Objectives  Values and People  Strategies  Performance measures

ABS Corporate Plan - Objectives  An expanded and improved national statistical service  ABS services that are timely, relevant, responsive and respected for their integrity and quality  Informed and increased use of statistics  A key contributor to international statistical activities that are important to Australia or our region

ABS Corporate Plan - Objectives  An organisation that builds capability to continually improve its effectiveness  The trust and cooperation of providers  ABS is a respected and strongly supported organisation

ABS Planning Cycle – Key Principles  Link to Government budget cycle  Flexibility to respond to emerging issues  Key decision-making points  External views

ABS Planning Cycle – Key Elements  Environmental scanning  Strategic directions  Bid list  Funding options  Bid decisions  Forward work program

Financial Plan  Revenue Government appropriation sale of goods and services  Operating budget – surplus/deficit  Capital plan property plan (9 offices) asset management  Cash management

Forward Work Program  Overview of the ABS  How the ABS makes decisions  How the ABS operates  ABS strategic directions  Information on each program (e.g. national accounts, labour, health) Objectives Outputs Developments

Strategy and Process Improvement  Internal audits  Reviews  Customer feedback  Project Management Framework

What ABS can do to assist countries in the region  Provide documentation – planning processes, statistical frameworks, etc.  Host study tours  Provide in country capacity building assistance - limited resources, in line with Aust. Government priorities