Citing and referencing: Government and other reports

A guide to the styles recommended by Monash schools and departments for students and researchers

Government and other reports

Notes:

  • The names of organisations that serve as authors (corporate authors) are usually written out each time they appear in a text reference.
  • When citing corporate authors, these are spelled out in the first reference and abbreviated in all subsequent citations. The general rule for abbreviating in this manner is to supply enough information in the text citation for a reader to locate its source in the reference list without difficulty.

For example:
First intext citation: (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], 2008)
Each subsequent citation: (ABS, 2008)

  • If the issuing organisation assigned a number (e.g., report number, contract number, monograph number) to the report, give that number in parentheses immediately after the title. Do not italicise the report number.
  • Where individual author/s are credited with writing the document, list them as author/s.
  • Where the document has one or more individual authors, see the example under Research report/Discussion paper, below.
  • Where there are no individual authors, include the organisation that is specifically responsible for creating government document as the corporate author.
  • Include the name of parent organisation of corporate author as the publisher.
  • Where the corporate author and the publisher are the same, omit the publisher.
  • Provide as specific a date as possible.
  • Where document is a website, end reference with URL.

 

Australian Bureau of Statistics, item on ABS website

Format  Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of publication (Report number). Publisher. https://xxxxx
Example

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2017, June). Childhood education and care, Australia (No. 4402.0).  https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/cat/4402.0

 

Census information

Format Author, A. A. (Year). Title of publication. Publisher. https://xxxxx
Example

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2006). Census of population and housing: B01 selected characteristics (First release processing) postal area 6050. https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au

 

Government reports

Format

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of publication (Report number). Publisher. https://xxxxx

Examples

 

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2019). Emergency department care 2017-18: Australian hospital statistics (Catalogue number HSE 216). https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/emergency-department-care-2017-18/contents/table-of-contents

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development & Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority. (2016). Victorian early years learning and development framework: For all children from birth to eight years. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/providers/edcare/veyldframework.pdf

Department of Health. (2012). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance framework (HPF) 2012.  https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/oatsih-hpf-2012-toc

Research report/Discussion paper (personal authors)

Format Author, A. A. (Year). Title of publication (Report number). Publisher. https://xxxxx
Example

Cockerill, L., & Pennings, S. (2007). Private business investment in Australia  (Research Discussion Paper RDP 2007-09).  Reserve Bank of Australia. https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2007/pdf/rdp2007-09.pdf

 

Press release

Format Author, A. A. (YYYY, Month DD). Title of press release [Press release]. Publisher. https://xxxxx
Example

NSW Department of Industry. (2018, July 30). Acoustics provide new insights on koalas in hinterland forests [Press release]. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2018/acoustics-provide-new-insights-on-koalas-in-hinterland-forests