Politics with Michelle Grattan
News:Politics
Perhaps at no point in Australia’s history has the demand for real-time figures been stronger than during the coronavirus crisis.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has stepped up its efforts to get data fast, to help inform the government’s COVID-19 decision-making.
David Gruen, the Australian Statistician and ABS head, in this podcast tells how the bureau has used small, quick surveys to mine timely data from businesses and households.
Some of the more interesting findings concern household stresses felt during the crisis.
Some 28% of women reported feeling lonely, compared to 16% of men. “Overall, only about a fifth of people said they were lonely, but that was the most common of the stressors,” Gruen says.
ABS survey results also showed 75% of parents kept their children home from school. “Women were almost three times as likely to have stayed at home to take care of their children on their own, than men.”
“About 15% of parents said that a lack of access to a stable internet connection was impeding their children’s ability to undertake schooling from home,” Gruen says.
In the wake of the roll out of the single touch payroll system last year, the ABS has also had instant access to almost all business and tax data. “[Single Touch Payroll] is a huge addition to the statistical arsenal,” Gruen says.
In the next census of the Australian population, to be held in August 2021, there will be two new fields of questions - on chronic health conditions and veterans.
But the census will no longer ask Australians whether they use the internet.
“There’s huge public value in having an accurate census, because you collect an enormous amount of information which is of value both to government decision makers, and to decision makers in the community,” Gruen says.
“The things that you learn from the census form the basis for an awful lot of decision-making in subsequent years.”
Word from The Hill: Subs, floods and people saying it’s ‘time to give someone else a go’
Russian specialist Matthew Sussex on Putin’s potential to start wider war
Assistance for Ukraine and Peter Dutton’s fundraising
Australian politics in an uncertain world
Labor defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor on China and Ukraine
Government’s ‘shock and awe’ assault on Anthony Albanese
Trent Zimmerman has no regrets on Religious Discrimination rebellion
On Scott Morrison’s battle for Religious Discrimination Bill
Anthony Albanese on his ‘legacy’ - so far
Peter Dutton on US combat assets in Australia, China, and Vladimir Putin
Tanya Plibersek on parents’ role in reducing violence against women
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Josh Frydenberg ‘thinking about the budget’ over Christmas
Sean Kelly and Anne Tiernan on election year
Michelle Grattan on Labor’s climate policy and Liberal’s fight for Warringah
Politicians condemn bad behaviour, and then behave badly
Jenny McAllister on domestic violence
Christmas can’t come too soon for Morrison
Liberal Dave Sharma on 2030 target
On Morrison’s character ratings
Chris Bowen says Labor’s climate policy will be ‘realistic and ambitious’
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free