Comments on: Can we trust the ABS’s job numbers any longer? http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/07/can-we-trust-the-abss-job-numbers-any-longer/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mirek http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/07/can-we-trust-the-abss-job-numbers-any-longer/#comment-9219 Mirek Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9219 This funding cut, under the cover of `economic rationalism`, is politically motivated: it allows the Government to accept some figures that suit their agenda, and selectively reject others, citing `volatility`. Employment, inflation and GDP figures have been massaged by governments of either persuasion, for their own ends, for decades, but this is truly machiavellian! Hats off to the Rudd regime and their economic conservatives! Notice, that the only sector not subject to cuts is Defence, Security and Police force. Quite right, you can`t let the rabble go around unsupervised not only in the OZ, but also in `our` backyard of Solomon Islands and East Timor. This funding cut, under the cover of `economic rationalism`, is politically motivated: it allows the Government to accept some figures that suit their agenda, and selectively reject others, citing `volatility`. Employment, inflation and GDP figures have been massaged by governments of either persuasion, for their own ends, for decades, but this is truly machiavellian! Hats off to the Rudd regime and their economic conservatives! Notice, that the only sector not subject to cuts is Defence, Security and Police force. Quite right, you can`t let the rabble go around unsupervised not only in the OZ, but also in `our` backyard of Solomon Islands and East Timor.

]]> By: Eric McAndrew http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/07/can-we-trust-the-abss-job-numbers-any-longer/#comment-9220 Eric McAndrew Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9220 "Rubbery" doesn't even start to describe the employment figures fiddle when they haven't, for many years now, given a realistic picture of employment meaning you were able to support yourself financially with just one job. Every other conjured statistic and qualifying adjective is a politically-motivated fiddle and needs to be legislated against so that the real situation with unemployment is known, recognised, and brought to the attention of the voting public. “Rubbery” doesn’t even start to describe the employment figures fiddle when they haven’t, for many years now, given a realistic picture of employment meaning you were able to support yourself financially with just one job. Every other conjured statistic and qualifying adjective is a politically-motivated fiddle and needs to be legislated against so that the real situation with unemployment is known, recognised, and brought to the attention of the voting public.

]]> By: Marty http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/07/can-we-trust-the-abss-job-numbers-any-longer/#comment-9221 Marty Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9221 This is the first i have heard of the dramatic cut to the funding of the ABS. Whether it be employment statistics or another genre, in my view robust and independently commissioned statistics, made available to the public are as much a foundation of good democracy as an independent judicial system and free media. Very disappointing. This is the first i have heard of the dramatic cut to the funding of the ABS. Whether it be employment statistics or another genre, in my view robust and independently commissioned statistics, made available to the public are as much a foundation of good democracy as an independent judicial system and free media. Very disappointing.

]]> By: Ted O'Brien http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/07/can-we-trust-the-abss-job-numbers-any-longer/#comment-9222 Ted O'Brien Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9222 From 1983 on the rules for counting unemployment were repeatedly changed, this to mislead the electorate. In NSW we saw the Carr government change the rules for counting hospital waiting lists to hide the truth.<br /><br />When the Rudd government cut funding to the ABS concern was immediately raised that this would make it more difficult to track unemployment levels. These figures must be viewed in this light. Are they real, are they out of date, or are they contrived? From 1983 on the rules for counting unemployment were repeatedly changed, this to mislead the electorate. In NSW we saw the Carr government change the rules for counting hospital waiting lists to hide the truth.

When the Rudd government cut funding to the ABS concern was immediately raised that this would make it more difficult to track unemployment levels. These figures must be viewed in this light. Are they real, are they out of date, or are they contrived?

]]> By: delatite http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/08/07/can-we-trust-the-abss-job-numbers-any-longer/#comment-9223 delatite Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-9223 ancient history. government have been fiddling the definitions of this data for yonks. rory needs to have a good look at the trend data he's whingeing about. ancient history. government have been fiddling the definitions of this data for yonks. rory needs to have a good look at the trend data he’s whingeing about.

]]>