Page 66 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 1

IPS57 Joanne H.
Diagram 1. Perspectives of trust in ABS

In 2017, the Data Futures Partnership in New Zealand published useful
guidelines for trusted data use which present eight key questions that
organisations can answer to explain how they collect and use data, to better
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build trust with clients and the wider community. The questions focus on
value, protection and choice, and indicate areas of possible public concern
about data use initiatives.

4. Need to Build Public Trust in Data Use
The ABS recognises the increasing need to build the trust of citizens in the
ABS and use of their data. This is particularly important to an NSO like the ABS,
as we rely on the willing cooperation of citizens and businesses to provide
accurate information in order to produce high quality statistical products that
inform Australia’s important decisions. Data is our core business, not a by-
product of an administrative process. We need to keep pace with, or positively
influence, community attitudes to data use.
Recent ‘data’ events in Australia and around the world have provided a
number of important insights for the ABS. These insights include:
• Conduct large data collection activities (e.g. Population and Housing
Census) as a major change program;
• Deliver a good user experience that meets service delivery
expectations;
• Be alert to a disruptive, changing environment, which impacts the
public response; and
• Address public privacy and use of data concerns.
The lessons highlight the importance of good communications, citizen-
centred design and engagement approaches for major data activities. In
particular, NSOs need to explain how data will be used, the key benefits of
data use, and how it will be kept safe.

6 Path to Social Licence: Guidelines for Trusted Data Use.
http://datafutures.co.nz/our-work-2/talking-to-new-zealanders/ (Link as of 24/04/2019.)
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