Office of the Government Statist and Actuary

Full description

Actuarial Functions

The Office of the Government Statist and Actuary currently conducts actuarial valuations for Friendly Societies, State Superannuation Funds, Parliamentary pension funds and so on, as well as other actuarial functions for government and semi-government authorities.

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration 1893-1983

From 1893 to 1983 the functions of the Office included statistical collection and registration of births, deaths and marriages under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1893 (56 Victoria No.1303). Although the Government Statist remained legislatively responsible for the registration of births, deaths and marriages until the proclamation of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Amendment) Act 1985 (No.10244) on 31 October 1986, operational responsibility was exercised by the Assistant Government Statist (Chief Registration Officer) from 1983 when the Government Statist and Actuary was transferred to the Department of Management and Budget (VA 1022). With the proclamation of the 1985 Act, legislative responsibility passed to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (VA 983).

Census and Statistics

Prior to 1893 the registration of births, deaths and marriages had been undertaken by the Registrar General (VA 862) and the Statist had been concerned with the collection and preparation of statistical reports, the Victorian Year Book, monthly reports and actuarial work for various departments and other bodies under various Local Government, Friendly Societies, Trade Unions and Census Acts.

The growth of the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the overall development of the statistical function in the Commonwealth led to the downgrading of the statistical function of the Government Statist.

Location of Records

See also List of Holdings 2nd edition 1985, sections 3.18.2 (births, deaths and marriages), 3.18.3 and 3.22.2 (census and statistics).