Provision of non-standard data and information for research purposes

AFSA is committed to providing publicly available statistical information at no cost regarding the Personal Insolvency and Personal Property Securities systems. AFSA does this to build knowledge and understanding of those systems and to assist with related economic analysis and research.

AFSA provides:

• personal insolvency statistical information
• statistics relating to the Personal Property Securities Register.

AFSA sometimes receives requests for non-standard information, or information that is not publicly available. This may include requests to conduct research with people who have entered into a personal insolvency arrangement, or people who have used the personal property securities regime.

AFSA will consider a range of factors when reviewing requests to access non-standard information, including:

• relevant ethics committee approval (see below)
• privacy implications associated with providing access to the requested information
• resource implications for AFSA in generating and providing the requested information – or providing information on the research initiative to clients and stakeholders
• broader public interest in providing the non-standard data or information.

The decision to assist with a request for non-standard or non-public data is at the absolute discretion of AFSA.

If AFSA agrees to provide information on a research initiative to its clients and stakeholders, it will be up to those clients or stakeholders to elect whether to participate or not and, if they choose to, they will need to contact the research provider directly.

AFSA will not disseminate information to potential research participants about a research initiative unless the research has been approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council.

AFSA will give favourable consideration to requests from organisations that are undertaking not for profit research into areas that build knowledge and understanding about the effectiveness of the personal insolvency and personal property security regimes.

Examples of areas of interest to AFSA may include research regarding:

• whether bankruptcy is an effective means of providing debtors with a ‘fresh start’
• how well debtors understand the consequences of personal insolvency
• factors influencing the choice made by debtors to enter into particular personal insolvency arrangements, such as debt agreements
• effectiveness of the Bankruptcy regime and practice, for example in meeting the needs of creditors
• implications of the Personal Property Securities system, including on the economy
• value and use of Personal Property Securities system, including as a capital raising tool.

If AFSA agrees to a request for non-standard or non-public data or information, this does not represent an endorsement of the research project or the research provider. A copy of any report or paper arising from the research is to be provided to AFSA not later than 2 weeks before  any public release.

Requests for non-standard data, information or assistance can be directed to statistics@afsa.gov.au. Requests should outline:

• the nature of the information, data or assistance requested
• the purpose of the research
• expertise / experience of the proposed researchers
• the value of the research to the public interest.

If the proposed research involves any contact with AFSA clients or stakeholders, the request should also include:

• evidence of Human Research Ethics Committee approval.

AFSA may request additional information to the above as required.

AFSA will aim to respond to requests within 28 days.  Depending on the nature of the request, agreement to provide data or information may be subject to recovery of certain costs incurred by AFSA.