The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the consolidated R&D numbers for 2016 last week,  CMM, May 23. But universities are waiting for the ABS to report their individual research spending, which becomes the official record as recognised by the Commonwealth. Word is the reason for the delay is that the ABS thinks its existing data distribution method, said to be via CD Rom, is a bit dated but is not sure what to use instead. “So, while the ABS no doubt sets up an internal committee process on this universities wait for their individual finalised figures,” a learned reader remarks. And time is tight – submissions to the House of Reps committee inquiry on research management are due at the end of the month.