Policy objective
The objective guiding the Australian Government’s overall approach to energy information is to develop and maintain comprehensive high-quality, timely and accessible information sets to promote public understanding of Australia’s energy systems and technologies, assist regulatory, policy and market development, ensure informed decision-making, and meet national and international reporting obligations.
This will also support the effective management of economic, social and environmental issues associated with energy production, supply and use.
Principles
Australian Government energy data and information should as far as possible be:
- accurate, robust, transparent, consistent and relevant to current developments in the Australian energy system
- aligned across Australian Government agencies to promote efficiency, usefulness and accessibility
- comprehensive across the energy system and through time
- made accessible to a broad range of stakeholders, including businesses, researchers, consumers, state and territory agencies, market bodies and international agencies
- produced and maintained with the minimum reporting burden on industry, government and other providers (thereby promoting productivity)
- aligned with state and territory agencies, energy market bodies and the energy sectors to promote efficiency and more effective analysis and advice
- supported by transparent and consistent methodologies, definitions, data quality statements and metadata.
Australian Government agencies will work together to maximise the sharing of relevant information. Agencies will examine effective ways to meet legitimate cross-agency information needs, consistent with their legislative requirements and any confidentiality obligations that apply.
New reporting requirements will be established only where there is a demonstrated need and where existing information sets cannot supply suitable information.