The relative economic status of Indigenous people in New South Wales, 1991 and 1996

Abstract

Census data remain the primary source of information on the economic status of Indigenous Australians in New South Wales, and certainly the most comprehensive. However, some care is required in their interpretation for public policy purposes. In particular, it should be noted that any change in characteristics observed between censuses does not necessarily apply to the population identified at the start of the intercensal period. In fact, because of the identification of a greater than expected Indigenous population in 1996, change to the original 1991 population cannot be adequately established. What can and should be done at the aggregate State level is to estimate characteristics for the original population using Australian Bureau of Statistics experimental population estimates derived from reverse survival procedures. This has the effect of properly aligning time series data. While this problem affects any analysis of aggregate data for New South Wales, it especially relates to the population counted in Sydney.

These issues aside, a key question for policy arising from an examination of 1991 and 1996 Census data is whether there has been any improvement in the absolute and relative level of Indigenous economic status in New South Wales during the 1990s.