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Details behind Survey of Income and Housing results

Liam Edwards-Playne made this Freedom of Information request to Australian Bureau of Statistics

We're waiting for Liam Edwards-Playne to read recent responses and update the status.

Liam Edwards-Playne
Delivered

Dear Australian Bureau of Statistics,

I note the recent media release stating that "Survey of Income and Housing results will not be released".

This was stated to be because of these reasons:

(1) "‘While we were compiling the statistics for SIH 2023-24, we found serious shortcomings in the questionnaire design and data collection processes that we could not overcome, despite our best efforts."

(2) "‘This is partly because collecting data from households has become more difficult and costly in recent years. This is being experienced by statistical offices around the world."

I request the following:
1. Details of the short comings in the questionnaire and data collection processes
2. Details of the increase in cost of data collection
3. Any meeting minutes/transcripts/communications which amount to the decision taken here

Yours faithfully,

Liam Edwards-Playne

Link to this Report
Kristina Chan, Australian Bureau of Statistics

4 Attachments

Dear Liam

Please find attached the response from the ABS regarding your Freedom of
Information request.
(See attached file: Consultation FOI202526-02.pdf)
Kind regards,
 
ABS FOI Team
Policy and Legislation Section | Legal and Policy Branch | Australian
Bureau of Statistics
(E)  [1][ABS request email]   (W)  [2]www.abs.gov.au

[3]Inactive hide details for "Liam Edwards-Playne" ---20/07/2025 08:32:22
PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne" <foi+request-13436-2043c70d@r"Liam
Edwards-Playne" ---20/07/2025 08:32:22 PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne"
<[FOI #13436 email]>

*
    Basics
"Liam Edwards-Playne" 20/07/2025 08:32 PM
<[FOI #13436 email]>
Send To "FOI requests at ABS" <[ABS request email]>
cc

Freedom of Information request - Details behind Survey of
Subject Income and Housing results[4]Policy & Legislation Section
WDB

Protective Mark

Information management markers             Caveat    

Categories Freedom of Information\Requests\Valid\2025/26

Visibility Limited Readers

Editors Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, PALS WDB Access, Lane
Masterton/Staff/ABS, Deborah Miliszewski/Staff/ABS

Readers Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, PALS WDB Access, FOI Stakeholder
Group

Last modified 21/07/2025 08:51:08 AM  By  Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Document Id DCOO-DJREJB

****************************************************************************************************
  CAUTION:  External email.  Do not click links or open attachments unless
you recognise the sender
  and know the content is safe
****************************************************************************************************
Dear Australian Bureau of Statistics,

I note the recent media release stating that "Survey of Income and Housing
results will not be released".

This was stated to be because of these reasons:

(1) "‘While we were compiling the statistics for SIH 2023-24, we found
serious shortcomings in the questionnaire design and data collection
processes that we could not overcome, despite our best efforts."

(2) "‘This is partly because collecting data from households has become
more difficult and costly in recent years. This is being experienced by
statistical offices around the world."

I request the following:

1. Details of the short comings in the questionnaire and data collection
processes

2. Details of the increase in cost of data collection

3. Any meeting minutes/transcripts/communications which amount to the
decision taken here

Yours faithfully,

Liam Edwards-Playne

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #13436 email]

Is [ABS request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to Australian Bureau of Statistics? If so, please
contact us using this form:

[5]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[6]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[ABS request email]
2. http://www.abs.gov.au/
4. file:///tmp/Notes:/domco1510.corp.abs.gov.au/CA25814D00045998/F54534119E524D36CA256D4800227591/836A000ADF38C468CA258CCD007CFE49
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Link to this Report
Liam Edwards-Playne
Delivered

Dear Australian Bureau of Statistics,

I had previously replied to your initial refusal email, but it appears RightToKnow has been buggy lately.

Thank you for your reply.

I would like to hereby revise my request.

I seek access to the following categories of documents, all dated between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025, held by the SIH Survey team or the Data Collection and Service Improvement Branch (including Senior Executive Staff but excluding drafts and routine correspondence):

• Final reports or memoranda that identify and describe the specific shortcomings in the SIH 2023–24 questionnaire design and data‑collection processes.
• Cost‑analysis documents (summary or working papers) detailing the increase in data‑collection costs for SIH 2023–24 relative to SIH 2021–22 or SIH 2022–23.
• Minutes, agendas or final minutes of meetings (including any steering‑committee, governance‑board or executive‑management meetings) where the decision was made not to release the SIH 2023–24 results, or where the issues above were discussed and resolved.

I confirm that I do not require draft versions, personal email chains or documents outside the branches and date range specified. If further narrowing is needed, I am happy to discuss limiting the request to one or two specific meetings or particular cost‑breakdown tables.

Yours faithfully,

Liam Edwards-Playne

Link to this Report
Angalea Turnbull, Australian Bureau of Statistics

3 Attachments

Hi Liam,

Thanks for your email and revised request.

I would like to discuss your request and assist in confirming a new scope,
could you please provide a phone number to contact you on today?

Alternatively, you can call us on 02 6252 5956.

Kind regards,

ABS FOI Team
Policy and Legislation Section | Legal and Policy Branch | Australian
Bureau of Statistics
(E)  [1][ABS request email]   (W)  [2]www.abs.gov.au

[3]Inactive hide details for "Liam Edwards-Playne" ---04/08/2025 05:09:31
PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne" <foi+request-13436-2043c70d@r"Liam
Edwards-Playne" ---04/08/2025 05:09:31 PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne"
<[FOI #13436 email]>

*
    Basics
"Liam Edwards-Playne" 04/08/2025 05:09 PM
<[FOI #13436 email]>
Send To "FOI requests at ABS" <[ABS request email]>
cc

Re: Freedom of Information request - Details behind Survey
Subject of Income and Housing results[4]Policy & Legislation Section
WDB

Protective Mark

Information management markers             Caveat    

Categories Freedom of Information\Requests\Valid\2025/26

Visibility Limited Readers

Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, PALS WDB Access, Lane
Editors Masterton/Staff/ABS, Deborah Miliszewski/Staff/ABS, Marcel
van Kints/Staff/ABS

Readers PALS WDB Access, FOI Stakeholder Group, Angalea
Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Last modified 05/08/2025 02:02:21 PM  By  Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Document Id DCOO-DK8AFP

****************************************************************************************************
  CAUTION:  External email.  Do not click links or open attachments unless
you recognise the sender
  and know the content is safe
****************************************************************************************************
Dear Australian Bureau of Statistics,

I had previously replied to your initial refusal email, but it appears
RightToKnow has been buggy lately.

Thank you for your reply.

I would like to hereby revise my request.

I seek access to the following categories of documents, all dated
between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025, held by the SIH Survey team or
the Data Collection and Service Improvement Branch (including Senior
Executive Staff but excluding drafts and routine correspondence):

• Final reports or memoranda that identify and describe the specific
shortcomings in the SIH 2023–24 questionnaire design and data‑collection
processes.

• Cost‑analysis documents (summary or working papers) detailing the
increase in data‑collection costs for SIH 2023–24 relative to SIH 2021–22
or SIH 2022–23.

• Minutes, agendas or final minutes of meetings (including any
steering‑committee, governance‑board or executive‑management meetings)
where the decision was made not to release the SIH 2023–24 results, or
where the issues above were discussed and resolved.

I confirm that I do not require draft versions, personal email chains or
documents outside the branches and date range specified. If further
narrowing is needed, I am happy to discuss limiting the request to one or
two specific meetings or particular cost‑breakdown tables.

Yours faithfully,

Liam Edwards-Playne

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #13436 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[5]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[ABS request email]
2. http://www.abs.gov.au/
4. file:///tmp/Notes:/domco1511.corp.abs.gov.au/CA25814D00045998/F54534119E524D36CA256D4800227591/A70B8AA12B2D0525CA258CD1000ABBE8
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Link to this Report
Angalea Turnbull, Australian Bureau of Statistics

3 Attachments

Hi Liam,

We have tried to contact you regarding the scope of your request.

Please contact us on the details below or respond with a contact number at
your earliest convenience.

Kind regards

ABS FOI Team
Policy and Legislation Section | Legal and Policy Branch | Australian
Bureau of Statistics
(E)  [1][ABS request email]   (W)  [2]www.abs.gov.au

[3]Inactive hide details for Policy & Legislation Section WDB---06/08/2025
08:04:00 AM---Policy & Legislation Section WDBPolicy & Legislation Section
WDB---06/08/2025 08:04:00 AM---Policy & Legislation Section WDB

*
    Basics
Policy & Legislation Section WDB 06/08/2025 08:04 AM
Sent by Angalea Turnbull
Send To "Liam Edwards-Playne"
<[FOI #13436 email]>
cc

Re: Freedom of Information request - Details behind Survey
Subject of Income and Housing results [SEC=OFFICIAL][4]Policy &
Legislation Section WDB

Protective Mark OFFICIAL

Information management markers             Caveat    

Categories Freedom of Information\Requests\Valid\2025/26

Visibility Limited Readers

PALS WDB Access, Lane Masterton/Staff/ABS, Deborah
Editors Miliszewski/Staff/ABS, Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, Marcel
van Kints/Staff/ABS

Readers PALS WDB Access, FOI Stakeholder Group, Angalea
Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Last modified 06/08/2025 08:04:01 AM  By  Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Document Id ATUL-DK9TSD
Edit Logging
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Edit | 06/08/2025 07:58:22 AM; Angalea Turnbull; Document |
| Log | created. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Hi Liam,

Thanks for your email and revised request.

I would like to discuss your request and assist in confirming a new scope,
could you please provide a phone number to contact you on today?

Alternatively, you can call us on 02 6252 5956.

Kind regards,

ABS FOI Team
Policy and Legislation Section | Legal and Policy Branch | Australian
Bureau of Statistics
(E)  [5][ABS request email]   (W)  [6]www.abs.gov.au

[7]Inactive hide details for "Liam Edwards-Playne" ---04/08/2025 05:09:31
PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne" <foi+request-13436-2043c70d@r"Liam
Edwards-Playne" ---04/08/2025 05:09:31 PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne"
<[FOI #13436 email]>

*
    Basics
"Liam Edwards-Playne" 04/08/2025 05:09 PM
<[FOI #13436 email]>
Send To "FOI requests at ABS" <[ABS request email]>
cc

Re: Freedom of Information request - Details behind Survey
Subject of Income and Housing results[8]Policy & Legislation Section
WDB

Protective Mark

Information management markers             Caveat    

Categories Freedom of Information\Requests\Valid\2025/26

Visibility Limited Readers

Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, PALS WDB Access, Lane
Editors Masterton/Staff/ABS, Deborah Miliszewski/Staff/ABS, Marcel
van Kints/Staff/ABS

Readers PALS WDB Access, FOI Stakeholder Group, Angalea
Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Last modified 05/08/2025 02:02:21 PM  By  Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Document Id DCOO-DK8AFP

****************************************************************************************************
  CAUTION:  External email.  Do not click links or open attachments unless
you recognise the sender
  and know the content is safe
****************************************************************************************************
Dear Australian Bureau of Statistics,

I had previously replied to your initial refusal email, but it appears
RightToKnow has been buggy lately.

Thank you for your reply.

I would like to hereby revise my request.

I seek access to the following categories of documents, all dated
between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025, held by the SIH Survey team or
the Data Collection and Service Improvement Branch (including Senior
Executive Staff but excluding drafts and routine correspondence):

• Final reports or memoranda that identify and describe the specific
shortcomings in the SIH 2023–24 questionnaire design and data‑collection
processes.

• Cost‑analysis documents (summary or working papers) detailing the
increase in data‑collection costs for SIH 2023–24 relative to SIH 2021–22
or SIH 2022–23.

• Minutes, agendas or final minutes of meetings (including any
steering‑committee, governance‑board or executive‑management meetings)
where the decision was made not to release the SIH 2023–24 results, or
where the issues above were discussed and resolved.

I confirm that I do not require draft versions, personal email chains or
documents outside the branches and date range specified. If further
narrowing is needed, I am happy to discuss limiting the request to one or
two specific meetings or particular cost‑breakdown tables.

Yours faithfully,

Liam Edwards-Playne

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #13436 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[9]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[ABS request email]
2. http://www.abs.gov.au/
4. file:///tmp/Notes:/domco1511.corp.abs.gov.au/CA25814D00045998/F54534119E524D36CA256D4800227591/FA9ACFA06DDC1B9DCA258CDC0027558C
5. mailto:[ABS request email]
6. http://www.abs.gov.au/
8. file:///tmp/Notes:/domco1511.corp.abs.gov.au/CA25814D00045998/F54534119E524D36CA256D4800227591/A70B8AA12B2D0525CA258CD1000ABBE8
9. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Link to this Report
Angalea Turnbull, Australian Bureau of Statistics

4 Attachments

Good morning Liam,

Please find attached the ABS response to your FOI request.

(See attached file: ABS Response to your FOI request.pdf)

Regards,

ABS FOI Team
Policy and Legislation Section | Legal and Policy Branch | Australian
Bureau of Statistics
(E)  [1][ABS request email]   (W)  [2]www.abs.gov.au

[3]Inactive hide details for Policy & Legislation Section WDB---11/08/2025
02:05:38 PM---Policy & Legislation Section WDBPolicy & Legislation Section
WDB---11/08/2025 02:05:38 PM---Policy & Legislation Section WDB

*
    Basics
Policy & Legislation Section WDB 11/08/2025 02:05 PM
Sent by Angalea Turnbull
Send To "Liam Edwards-Playne"
<[FOI #13436 email]>
cc [email address]@M365

Notification: Re: Freedom of Information request - Details
Subject behind Survey of Income and Housing results
[SEC=OFFICIAL][4]Policy & Legislation Section WDB

Protective Mark OFFICIAL

Information management markers             Caveat    

Categories Freedom of Information\Requests\Valid\2025/26

Visibility Limited Readers

PALS WDB Access, Lane Masterton/Staff/ABS, Deborah
Editors Miliszewski/Staff/ABS, Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, Marcel
van Kints/Staff/ABS

Readers Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, PALS WDB Access, FOI Stakeholder
Group, Bianca Peters/Staff/ABS, Michelle Gillies/Staff/ABS

Last modified 14/08/2025 10:02:18 AM  By  Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Document Id ATUL-DKF6LX
Edit Logging
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Edit | 11/08/2025 01:54:47 PM; Angalea Turnbull; Document |
| Log | created. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Hi Liam,

We have tried to contact you regarding the scope of your request.

Please contact us on the details below or respond with a contact number at
your earliest convenience.

Kind regards

ABS FOI Team
Policy and Legislation Section | Legal and Policy Branch | Australian
Bureau of Statistics
(E)  [5][ABS request email]   (W)  [6]www.abs.gov.au

[7]Inactive hide details for Policy & Legislation Section WDB---06/08/2025
08:04:00 AM---Policy & Legislation Section WDBPolicy & Legislation Section
WDB---06/08/2025 08:04:00 AM---Policy & Legislation Section WDB

*
    Basics
Policy & Legislation Section WDB 06/08/2025 08:04 AM
Sent by Angalea Turnbull
Send To "Liam Edwards-Playne"
<[FOI #13436 email]>
cc

Re: Freedom of Information request - Details behind Survey
Subject of Income and Housing results [SEC=OFFICIAL][8]Policy &
Legislation Section WDB

Protective Mark OFFICIAL

Information management markers             Caveat    

Categories Freedom of Information\Requests\Valid\2025/26

Visibility Limited Readers

PALS WDB Access, Lane Masterton/Staff/ABS, Deborah
Editors Miliszewski/Staff/ABS, Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, Marcel
van Kints/Staff/ABS

Readers PALS WDB Access, FOI Stakeholder Group, Angalea
Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Last modified 06/08/2025 08:04:01 AM  By  Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Document Id ATUL-DK9TSD
Edit Logging
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Edit | 06/08/2025 07:58:22 AM; Angalea Turnbull; Document |
| Log | created. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Hi Liam,

Thanks for your email and revised request.

I would like to discuss your request and assist in confirming a new scope,
could you please provide a phone number to contact you on today?

Alternatively, you can call us on 02 6252 5956.

Kind regards,

ABS FOI Team
Policy and Legislation Section | Legal and Policy Branch | Australian
Bureau of Statistics
(E)  [9][ABS request email]   (W)  [10]www.abs.gov.au

[11]Inactive hide details for "Liam Edwards-Playne" ---04/08/2025 05:09:31
PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne" <foi+request-13436-2043c70d@r"Liam
Edwards-Playne" ---04/08/2025 05:09:31 PM---"Liam Edwards-Playne"
<[FOI #13436 email]>

*
    Basics
"Liam Edwards-Playne" 04/08/2025 05:09 PM
<[FOI #13436 email]>
Send To "FOI requests at ABS" <[ABS request email]>
cc

Re: Freedom of Information request - Details behind Survey
Subject of Income and Housing results[12]Policy & Legislation
Section WDB

Protective Mark

Information management markers             Caveat    

Categories Freedom of Information\Requests\Valid\2025/26

Visibility Limited Readers

Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS, PALS WDB Access, Lane
Editors Masterton/Staff/ABS, Deborah Miliszewski/Staff/ABS, Marcel
van Kints/Staff/ABS

Readers PALS WDB Access, FOI Stakeholder Group, Angalea
Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Last modified 05/08/2025 02:02:21 PM  By  Angalea Turnbull/Staff/ABS

Document Id DCOO-DK8AFP

****************************************************************************************************
  CAUTION:  External email.  Do not click links or open attachments unless
you recognise the sender
  and know the content is safe
****************************************************************************************************
Dear Australian Bureau of Statistics,

I had previously replied to your initial refusal email, but it appears
RightToKnow has been buggy lately.

Thank you for your reply.

I would like to hereby revise my request.

I seek access to the following categories of documents, all dated
between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025, held by the SIH Survey team or
the Data Collection and Service Improvement Branch (including Senior
Executive Staff but excluding drafts and routine correspondence):

• Final reports or memoranda that identify and describe the specific
shortcomings in the SIH 2023–24 questionnaire design and data‑collection
processes.

• Cost‑analysis documents (summary or working papers) detailing the
increase in data‑collection costs for SIH 2023–24 relative to SIH 2021–22
or SIH 2022–23.

• Minutes, agendas or final minutes of meetings (including any
steering‑committee, governance‑board or executive‑management meetings)
where the decision was made not to release the SIH 2023–24 results, or
where the issues above were discussed and resolved.

I confirm that I do not require draft versions, personal email chains or
documents outside the branches and date range specified. If further
narrowing is needed, I am happy to discuss limiting the request to one or
two specific meetings or particular cost‑breakdown tables.

Yours faithfully,

Liam Edwards-Playne

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #13436 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[13]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[ABS request email]
2. http://www.abs.gov.au/
4. file:///tmp/Notes:/domco1511.corp.abs.gov.au/CA25814D00045998/F54534119E524D36CA256D4800227591/E0FD1A7600038948CA258CDD0078B340
5. mailto:[ABS request email]
6. http://www.abs.gov.au/
8. file:///tmp/Notes:/domco1511.corp.abs.gov.au/CA25814D00045998/F54534119E524D36CA256D4800227591/FA9ACFA06DDC1B9DCA258CDC0027558C
9. mailto:[ABS request email]
10. http://www.abs.gov.au/
12. file:///tmp/Notes:/domco1511.corp.abs.gov.au/CA25814D00045998/F54534119E524D36CA256D4800227591/A70B8AA12B2D0525CA258CD1000ABBE8
13. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Link to this Report
We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Liam Edwards-Playne please sign in and let everyone know.