SSA and ABS are proudly presenting: The ABS Symposium on Data Access and Privacy

13 Dec 2021– 14 Dec 2021 @ Online

This symposium is about public data access and privacy and will bring together key stakeholders from the Australian Public Service and academia to consider recent developments and share experience in enabling data access for research while ensuring confidentiality.

On day 1, we will hear panel discussions from international and Australian experts share their views on ‘the challenge of protecting privacy in public data’ and ‘the case for better access to public sector data’. The final session will be multiple breakout sessions of round table discussions focusing on ‘the future of data sharing’. On day 2, we will hear research and developments and practical experience in confidentiality in the public sector and academia. The presentations focus methods to ensure confidentiality in microdata and aggregate statistics.

Day 1

“The balance between privacy and openness in public data” 

• 09:15-09:30 -Welcome- Dr David Gruen (The Australian Statistician, ABS) – bio
• 09:40-10:30- Panel 1: The challenge of protecting privacy in public data
• Opening: Dr. John M Abowd (Chief Scientist, USCB) – bio and CV

Moderator: Dr David Gruen

Focus: While public data is a powerful resource, we need to uphold public trust
and prevent misuse. Discussion may include the problems of implementing
protections while still releasing a useful product, and the cumulative risks that
can be hard to measure and control.

Panel:

• Dr. John M Abowd (Chief Scientist, USCB) – bio and CV
• Professor Ben Rubinstein – bio
• Mr Peter van Dijk (Director, Galexia) – bio

10:30-10:40-Break 

10:40-11:30-Panel 2: The case for better access to public sector data

• Opening: Ms Deborah Anton (interim National Data Commissioner) – bio and Professor Felix Ritchie - bio
• Moderator: Ms Teresa Dickinson (Deputy Australian Statistician, ABS) – bio

Focus: Safe dissemination and sharing of public data enables a wide variety of
researchers to deliver clear and measurable public benefits. The panel
may discuss some of the outcomes that have resulted from existing data releases as well as potential future projects.

Panel:

• Ms Deborah Anton (interim National Data Commissioner) – bio
• Professor Robert Breunig - bio
• Dr Nick Biddle (ANU Centre forSocial Research and Methods)

11:30-11:40-Break 

11:40-12:20-Panel 3: The future of data sharing

Moderator: Marcel van Kints (Chief Data Officer, ABS) - bio

Focus:
•What are the steps to finding thebalance between the privacy risks
and public benefits of our data?
•What is the way forward for publicagencies as public attitudes towards
data change?
-Breakouts

12:20-12:30-Day 1 closing- Anders Holmberg (Chief Methodologist, ABS) - bio

Day 2 

“Research and developments in safe data in the public sector”

09:15-09:30-Day 2 opening-Anders Holmberg (Chief Methodologist, ABS) - bio

09:30-10:30-Session 1-Microdata research and developments
Facilitator: Dr Joseph Chien / Chris Mann

10:30-10:40-Break

10:40-11:40-Session 2-Aggregate statistics research and developments
Facilitator: Dr Joseph Chien / Chris Mann

11:40-11:50-Break

11:50-12:20-Breakout discussions

12:20-12:30- Day 2 conclusion-Dr Anders Holmberg 

This event is free but you do need to register.