Services statistics capture the trends, contribution and competitiveness of the sector
Action 5.1A
The Government will undertake regular services exports surveys and produce a national dataset, including earnings of Australian foreign affiliates.
recommendation/s
The Australian Government should provide ongoing funding for the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to undertake regular services exports surveys and produce a national dataset, including earnings of Australian foreign affiliates.
Progress to date
The Australian Outwards Foreign Affiliates Survey for 2018-19 was released on 10 September 2020 providing much sought-after information on international sales of Australian majority-owned enterprises. The previous such survey was conducted in 2002-03.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the publication International Trade in Services; Concepts, Sources and Methods on 9 December 2021. The paper contains information regarding the concepts that underpin the ABS international trade in services statistics allowing users to better interpret and understand services statistics.
The paper provides information that assists user to:
- understand what is included in international trade in service statistics.
- understand the data sources which contribute to different service categories.
- recognise the uses of international trade in services statistics.
- understand the quality of ABS international trade in services statistics.