
Citing a government website in Australia depends on the style guide being used. For example, the Australian National University uses the AGLC Referencing Style, which dictates that if a publication is authored by a government body, the name of that body is the author. The University of Wollongong and Avondale University, on the other hand, use the APA7 style guide. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also has its own style guide, which has been updated to align with the Australian Government Style Manual.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Name of the body that authored the publication |
| Title | Italicise the title and capitalise all words except articles, conjunctions and prepositions |
| Type of publication | Include the type of publication (e.g. Report, Discussion Paper, Consultation Paper) and the number if it is part of a series |
| Year of publication | Include the year of publication in round brackets |
| Pinpoint references | Include the page or paragraph or chapter |
| Retrieval date | Include a retrieval date if the page's contents are designed to change |
| Publisher name | Can be omitted from the reference if the author and publisher are the same |
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Citing a webpage
When citing a webpage from the Australian government, you should follow the Australian Government Style Manual. The specific format may depend on the style guide you are using (e.g. APA 7), but here are some general guidelines for citing a webpage:
Author: If a webpage is authored by a specific person, use their name as the author. If it is authored by a government department or body, use the name of that body as the author. If the jurisdiction is not clear from the department's name, you can include the abbreviated jurisdiction in parentheses after the name.
Publication Information: Include the type of publication (e.g. Report, Discussion Paper), followed by the reference period or year of publication in round brackets. For example: (June 2020). If the webpage is part of a series, include the number preceded by "No."
URL and Access Date: Provide the URL of the specific webpage you are citing. Also, include the date you accessed the webpage, as government websites are frequently updated. For example: "accessed 11 December 2020."
"Australian Bureau of Statistics (June 2020) Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product [URL], ABS Website, accessed 11 December 2020."
Note that if you are citing a specific type of content, such as a map, graph, image, or social media post, you may need to include additional information in your citation.
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Citing a table
When citing a table from an Australian government website, the general format is as follows:
> Australian Bureau of Statistics (Year of publication) 'Title of table' [description of material if not included in title], Title of publication [URL], accessed DD Month YYYY.
> Australian Bureau of Statistics (2020) 'Table 1 - Percentage change by states and territories' [table], Weekly Payroll Jobs and Wages in Australia, accessed 11 December 2020.
If the table title includes the description of the material, such as "table", "map", "graph", or "image", then you do not need to include the description in square brackets after the title. For example:
> Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018) 'Populations of interest: persons with disability' [interactive map], Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of findings, accessed 11 December 2020.
When citing a table from a regularly updated webpage, it is important to include a retrieval date. This is shown by the "Latest Release date".
For in-text citations, the first citation should include the full name of the organisation, with any subsequent citations using an abbreviation. For example:
> First in-text citation: (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2008)
> Subsequent citations: (ABS, 2008)
If the table you are citing has been assigned a number, include this in parentheses immediately after the title. Do not italicise the number.
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Citing a map
When citing a map from an Australian government website, you should follow the style guidelines of the specific institution for which you are writing the citation. For example, if you are writing for an Australian university, you may be required to use the AGLC referencing style.
If you are using the AGLC referencing style, the general format for citing a map from an Australian government website is as follows:
Australian Bureau of Statistics (Year of publication) 'Title of map [URL]' [type of map], Title of Publication, accessed [date].
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018) 'Populations of interest: persons with disability' [interactive map], Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of findings, accessed 11 December 2020.
Note that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is both the author and publisher of this map, so the publisher name can be omitted from the reference as per ABS guidelines.
If you are using information from a map but not reproducing the map as an image or figure, you can simply cite the source of the map. However, if you are reproducing the map in your work, you should also check the guidelines for images and figures. If the author of the map is unknown, use the copyright owner of the map as the author. If the author of the map is also the publisher, omit the publisher. For dynamically created maps (e.g. Google Maps) that do not have a title, describe the map in square brackets and include a retrieval date.
When citing a free-standing print map, you should provide the publication details given by the source. This includes the title of the map (in italics because it is a stand-alone work), the publisher, and the publication date. For example:
Michigan. Rand, 2000.
If the map appears as a static image contained in another work, like a book or website, you can refer to it in the text and then provide an entry for the larger work in the works-cited-list. For example:
As one map shows, the western boundaries of Brazil have changed over time (Fitz 43).
You can also treat the map as a work contained in another work and create a works-cited-list entry that gives the name of the map as the title of the source and the name of the book or website as the title of the container. For example:
The western boundaries of Brazil have changed over time ("Western Boundaries"). "Western Boundaries of Brazil, 1600, 1780, and the Present." Brazilian Narrative Traditions in a Comparative Context, by Earl E. Fitz, Modern Language Association, 2005, p. 43. Map.
Note that titles of maps appearing as images in other works are placed in quotation marks. Digital maps may provide limited publication information, so be sure to include all relevant details.
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Citing a graph
When citing a graph from an Australian government website, there are a few standard formatting styles you can use, such as APA, MLA, or Harvard referencing. Here is a guide on how to cite a graph using each of these styles:
APA Referencing Style:
If you are using the American Psychological Association (APA) style, the 7th edition of the APA manual provides guidelines for citing figures, including graphs. Here are the key points to consider:
- Figures and Placement: According to APA guidelines, a figure can be a chart, graph, photograph, drawing, or illustration. When referring to a graph in the text, use "Figure" with a capital "F" and the number, for example, "Figure 1."
- Legend and Notes: Include a legend or key within the borders of the graph to explain any symbols used. If needed, add a note below the graph to describe any additional information that cannot be understood from the title, graph, and/or legend alone. Notes should be flush left and non-italicized, beginning with the word "Note" in italics followed by a period.
- Copyright and Permissions: If you are reproducing or adapting a graph that you did not create, remember to obtain permission from the copyright holder unless the work is in the public domain or licensed for use with a Creative Commons license.
- In-Text Citations and Reference List: For graphs found on websites, refer to the APA guidelines for web pages. No in-text citation or reference list entry is needed for your own graphs.
MLA Referencing Style:
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style offers guidelines for citing images or graphs from the web. Here are the key elements:
- Creator and Title: Begin the citation with the creator or author of the graph, followed by the title of the image or graph in quotation marks.
- Source and Publisher: Include the title of the source (if given), the publisher, and the date of publication.
- Website Information: Provide the name of the website in italics, the URL, and the date you accessed the graph if necessary.
- Caption and Works Cited: You have options for how to include the citation information. You can either place the full citation in the caption under the image or include a brief caption with an in-text citation and place the full citation on the Works Cited page.
Harvard Referencing Style:
The Harvard style provides guidelines for citing images, tables, and diagrams, which can include graphs. Here are the key considerations:
- Figures and Captions: Label graphs with figure numbers and simple, descriptive captions directly under the image.
- In-Text Citations: Include an in-text citation after the caption. For example: "Figure 1. Agricultural water use, by state in 2004-05 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006)."
- References: In your reference list, provide details such as the author or organization, year of publication, title of the image or graph, type of image, name of the publisher or website, and the URL.
Remember to adapt the citation format as needed, depending on the specific style guide requirements and the nature of the source.
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Citing a social media post
When citing a social media post, it is important to give credit to the original author to avoid plagiarism. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cite a social media post, with examples:
- Author's Name or Username: Begin the citation with the author's name or username. If the author's name is not available, use their username or handle. For example, "@username" or "American U Library".
- Text of the Post: Provide the text of the post that you are citing. For longer posts, include the first sentence or a few words, followed by ellipses to indicate that the text has been truncated. For instance, "First sentence of the Instagram post..." or "First several words of the Facebook post...".
- Date and Time Posted: Include the date and time the post was made. If the exact time is not available, just include the date. For example, "11 March 2016, 12:15 PM" or "3 March 2016".
- Platform: Mention the social media platform where the post was found. Examples include "Instagram", "Twitter", or "Facebook".
- URL: Provide the URL of the specific post if possible. Social media content often has a unique URL associated with it. If a unique URL is not available, provide the URL of the creator's account. For instance, "https://www.instagram.com/p/BDWURHtoCbG/.
Lastname, Firstname [or @username]. "First sentence of the Instagram post..." 11 March 2023, 12:15 PM, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/post_identifier/.
Note that the format can be adapted for different social media platforms, such as Tumblr, LinkedIn, or Instagram. Additionally, if you are citing content with emojis, provide the name of the emoji in square brackets if you cannot create the emoji itself.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is both the author and publisher of its reports. The general format for referencing is: Australian Bureau of Statistics (Reference period: Month YYYY) Title of webpage [URL], ABS Website, accessed DD Month YYYY.
Yes, as the ABS website is updated regularly, you should include the date you accessed the information.
The format for this type of source is: Australian Bureau of Statistics (Year of publication) 'Title of table/graph/image' [description of material if not included in title], Title of publication [URL], accessed DD Month YYYY.
The format for this is: Australian Bureau of Statistics [@username] (DD Month YYYY of post) Title or description of post [URL] [type of post], accessed DD Month YYYY.
The name of that body is the author. If the jurisdiction is not clear from the department's name, include the abbreviated jurisdiction in parentheses after the department name. Italicise the title and capitalise all words except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions.






























