can imagine (or maybe not). I joined the ABS as I majored in IT with a minor in statistics. I thought it was interesting and thought I would like to be involved. little did I know the ugly truth of how “statistics” are generated here. The whole process is fraught with errors and downright dishonesty … we have directives from the Pollies, saying “oh dont collect figures from unemployed persons if they are doing a course (redployment or ‘upskilling’), or have part time work” (even though the person may want full time work). so they rule out individuals that dont have the kind of work they need, in order to pay their bills. then we have the data collection process where someone who is supposed to (for instance) collect the price of a chicken in various supermarkets (which contributes to the CPI figure). they go to a supermarket only to find it doesnt have a complete chicken to price… so they ‘build’ one from legs, breasts, wings, etc and price that. then there is the sample selection and extrapolation formulas which are complete rubbish, then when the actual statistic gets computed, some ‘senior person’ has a look at the statistic and determines whether it is correct! if they FEEL its not right they change it… this is ‘seasonal corrections’

I know you guys hate us (ex) ‘pubes’ and this only gives you more reason to do so. but the truth of the matter is with power comes corruption, no matter whether its a public or private enterprise. you got example dodgy stats producers in the private sector via rismark!! so no real excuses all round

I continue to believe that our economy is balanced on a fine knife edge, and that it would not take much to push us over. And current policies, of raising rates and more debt at the same time, all but guarantee that we are going to go down in a mighty crash at some point in the future. I just wish I knew when, but the 12 months following the election will probably be a very high risk period.

Superannuation is compulsory in this country right? When I got made redundant (March09 – my employer bank could only manage a $65m profit for the 1/2year so 10% had to go) my letter of separation advised me that they, my employer, had written to my super fund advising them not to expect any more monies. Since then (in December 09) I have received a letter from my super fund saying they hadnt received a payment and advising me they were going to write to my empoyer…… the lights obviously arent on at my fund HQ.
Sooooooooo the painfully obvious question why isnt the government just getting figures from all the super funds on the number of letters advising of no more payments and the number of advices of new accounts or additions to existing accounts (for those getting employed). Surely that would be more accurate then the present lottery(even if the self funded “contributors” have to be accounted for with separate arrangements). What am I missing. Or (cynically) true figures arent what are wanted. One other point, in October09 I managed to get casual work due to the Christmas rush as a nightfill at BigW along with a number of others who were actually getting the position as secondary income. How are they (secondary jobbers) counted in the stats as far as improved employment figures go? Since Christmas I have had one 5hr shift and am not registered as unemployed or claiming any benefits. Luckily the wife works but we are about to hit the wall due to debt and increasing bills. So we have managed to survive for 12months and I am sure there are a lot of hidden unemployed out there like me who will only now start to be impacted and therefore start to affect the economy eg mortgage, credit card, health insurance defaulters etc etc. But dont worry the employment figures tell a different story.
Cheers

will make me appreciate your shorter interjections even more now ;p