Make informed decisions with ABR data
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ABR data – assisting government agencies
Business data is the cornerstone for government planning and decision making. The Australian Business Register (ABR) has a comprehensive database of business information that can provide your government agency with the clarity and confidence needed to achieve the best results.
What is ABR data?
When businesses and other organisations – including government bodies and non-profit organisations – apply for an Australian business number (ABN), their registration information is captured and stored in the ABR.
There are two kinds of data stored in the ABR – public and non-public. Only eligible government agencies can access non-public data in addition to public data.
Non-public data includes, but is not limited to:
- business address
- email address
- phone number
- ANZSIC code
- industry description
- authorised contact
- associate details
- geocoded business locations.
ABR data is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Better yet, it’s free.
How non-public data can help your agency
Our non-public data allows your agency to understand and assist businesses and the wider community in your area – as well as strategically plan for the future.
It also provides your agency with an opportunity to increase your productivity and savings through reduced workflow.
Here’s how non-public data is commonly used:
- service delivery – validate client information in real time and pre-fill online forms
- procurement – validate supplier ABNs and identify local suppliers and trades people
- planning and economic development – identify and plan for growth in the community
- licensing businesses – validate business details, and issue licences and registrations
- emergency management – identify businesses affected by natural disaster
- disaster recovery – assist in locating businesses eligible for disaster grants
- compliance – undertake regulatory compliance, investigations and enforcement
- training and education – identify target groups for training workshops
- community consultation – engage with local businesses on community issues
Our data in action
Federal, state/territory and local government agencies are transforming the way they do business by using non-public ABR data. Here are some examples of our data in action:
- Sprint for success – Identified and contacted businesses affected by road closures for the Queen's Baton relay (Glenorchy City Council, TAS).
- Work smarter not harder – Determined which businesses should be included in surveys using industry coding data (Australian Bureau of Statistics).
- Data for disasters – Identified businesses in the flood zone impacted by ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie (Tweed Shire Council, NSW).
- Business at first sight – Identified new businesses to send information kits to promote community engagement (Frankston City Council, VIC).
- Charting for success – Analysed business growth and identified businesses no longer trading (Queensland Office of Small Business, QLD).
- Tune in to tourism – Developed a tourism strategy by identifying tourism businesses across multiple regions. Data also assisted in looking at equitable funding models for regional tourism (Light Regional Council, SA).
- Banana Freckle – biological hazard – Identified and engaged businesses connected with the banana industry and disease outbreak (Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, NT).
- Know your supplier – Validated business information and conducted compliance checks for procurement (Shire of Mundaring, WA).
- Business support services – Identified and contacted local businesses for education activities for Small Business Week (Tablelands Regional Council, QLD).
- Driving for change – Integrated ABR data internally, resulting in a significant reduction in process times (Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs Transport and Resources, VIC).
Getting access to non-public data
To get access to non-public ABR data:
- Contact us to request access and let us know how you intend to use the data.
- Submit a Partnership Agreement that has been signed by your agency head.
Once your agency has been granted access, we can help you determine the best channel to use to retrieve the data you require.
Want to know more?
For more information, visit abr.gov.au/ABRdata
Get in touch today
Email us at GovernmentAgencySupport@ato.gov.au