An attempt by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to cut costs and corners led to the “shocking” and last-minute cancellation of a key survey that would have cast light on how households have navigated the cost of living crisis.

Newly released ABS briefing documents to Andrew Leigh, the assistant minister for Treasury, reveal how the Canberra-based agency scrambled but ultimately failed to salvage its long-awaited survey on income and housing for 2023-4, which had been due for release in July.

The survey of about 30,000 people provides the only comprehensive statistics on household income and wealth and housing occupancy and costs.

Thanks to the pandemic, the survey was last completed for the 2019-20 financial year. Now the ABS is now looking to release the data for 2025-26 in mid-2

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