Data Strategy

Data are central to the work of the Commission. Staff have a strong understanding of the vital importance of effective data handling and sharing to the success of the Commission. This strategy, alongside other Commission policies, promotes ongoing high standards and supports new initiatives to enhance existing practices. It also provides stakeholders, including data providers, with confidence that data will be effectively and appropriately handled.

The Commission acquires data directly from state governments, through Commonwealth agencies – for example, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and the National Transport Commission – and from private sources (for example, Rawlinsons Cost Management). The Commission’s processes for ensuring the appropriate access to, use of, and sharing of data will be considered by the Data Working Group.

The Commission supports the Intergovernmental Agreement on data sharing between the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments ‘to share data where it can be done securely, safely, lawfully and ethically’. The Commission publishes on its website the data underpinning tables and charts used in its annual GST relativities publications, alongside supporting data on state populations, revenues and expenses, and GST relativities over time.

The Commission supports staff in further developing their data skills and knowledge through a combination of external training and on-the-job learning opportunities. 

Information on the Commission’s approach to quality assurance – including the analysis of data – is available in the Quality Assurance Framework. 

To manage performance of the strategy, the Commission will seek feedback from its primary stakeholders – state and territory governments – and other data providers to assess whether the Data Strategy is achieving its intended goals.