The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to deliver a newly renovated annual survey on the wellbeing of Australians in a bid by the Albanese Government to strengthen the Measuring What Matters statement that is published by the Government on a three year cycle.

The Government is investing $14.8 million to expand and enhance the General Social Survey run by the ABS, which will be conducted annually with an increased sample size and newly expanded questions. The revised survey will collect data on a range of topics, including overall life satisfaction, participation in volunteering, experience of discrimination, ability to raise emergency funds, participation in formal study and informal learning, attendance at cultural events, prevalence of serious psychological distress and chronic conditions, and trust in others and key institutions.

The Government will publish a comprehensive statement every three years based on the survey's findings, following the delivery of the first Measuring What Matters statement last year.

The initiative is part of the Albanese Government's investment in the nation's first national wellbeing framework, which aims to support policy development and align economic and social goals across the country. The framework aims to place people, progress, fairness, and opportunity at the heart of economic and social thinking.

The newly announced steps will strengthen the 'Measuring What Matters' initiative and provide more data and analysis in addition to traditional economic measures like GDP, employment, inflation, and wages. The insights from these statements will be used to inform budgets and government decision-making.

The responsibility for reporting annual progress against the framework will be transferred from Treasury to the ABS.