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publicdata.au

by publicdata.au · remote · no sign-in to list tools · v2.44.0 · published by au.publicdata

Search, filter, count and sum Australian government open data, with every version kept.

Changes · 1

12 tools: 1 change things and 11 only read.

Scanned Oct 21, 2026

No check matched anything in the tool definitions. No finding is not a safety guarantee. How the checks work.

claude mcp add --transport http publicdata https://publicdata.au/mcp

Tools

Open a tool for its reasons and full description. Descriptions are the publisher's own words, shown as they are.

12 tools

Changes things 1Claude Code: ask
  • upvote_datasetAdd one anonymous vote for a government dataset that publicdata.au does not serve yet, so it is built sooner.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The description's first verb is "add": a word for a change.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Add one anonymous vote for a government dataset that publicdata.au does not serve yet, so it is built sooner. To read a served dataset use search_datasets, and to see the votes so far use list_backlog. slug is a vote key from search_catalogue, such as act-3u5a-ve4j, or a list_backlog slug. A dataset that is served, being built or closed returns an error saying it is not open for votes. No identity is recorded, so a vote cannot be withdrawn, and a second vote from the same caller on the same day adds nothing. The answer gives the dataset's vote total after this call. The call costs nothing against the rate limit.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Vote for a dataset
    • readOnlyHint: false
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
Only reads 11Claude Code: allow
  • count_rowsCount, sum, average, minimum or maximum rows of a served dataset across the whole table, grouped by up to three fields.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "count_rows" says "count": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Count, sum, average, minimum or maximum rows of a served dataset across the whole table, grouped by up to three fields. For the rows themselves use query_rows. Field names and values for group_by and where come from list_fields. sum and avg need a numeric or true-or-false field. min and max take any field. version can be any date in the version history from get_dataset. A version too large for one file is stored as period parts and answered from them. A filter on the period field reads only the parts it can match, and parts names the periods read. Groups come back largest first, and truncated means raise limit or narrow where. An unknown field or version returns an error naming it. Each call costs two of the 60 queries each address may make in 10 seconds.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Count and sum rows
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • diff_versionsCompare two consecutive versions of a served dataset row by row on its key fields, to see what a publisher changed between releases.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "diff_versions" says "diff": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Compare two consecutive versions of a served dataset row by row on its key fields, to see what a publisher changed between releases. from and to must be adjacent dates in the version history from get_dataset, older first. Any other pair returns a 404 error, so step through a longer span one pair at a time. A dataset with no key, which list_fields shows as an empty key, gets row counts only, and a dataset with one version has nothing to compare. One answer holds the counts of rows added, removed, changed and unchanged, the keys of the rows added, removed and changed, and up to ten changed rows with their old and new values. The call costs nothing against the rate limit.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Compare versions
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • fetchRead one served dataset's record as text to quote and cite: its summary, publisher, licence, attribution string, newest version and the URL of that version.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "fetch" says "fetch": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Read one served dataset's record as text to quote and cite: its summary, publisher, licence, attribution string, newest version and the URL of that version. It is the fetch that ChatGPT deep research and company knowledge call, with an id from search. It carries no rows. To answer from the data use query_rows or count_rows, and for every version and file use get_dataset. One answer holds the text, with the same facts under metadata. An id that is not served returns an error. The call costs nothing against the rate limit.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Fetch a dataset record
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • get_datasetRead a served dataset's data package and full version history: licence, attribution, whole-table files and the version dates diff_versions and the version parameter take.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "get_dataset" says "get": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Read a served dataset's data package and full version history: licence, attribution, whole-table files and the version dates diff_versions and the version parameter take. It carries no rows. To answer from the rows use query_rows or count_rows, and for field names use list_fields. slug is lowercase letters, digits and hyphens, the part after /d/ in a dataset page URL, such as au-road-deaths. The whole history comes back in one answer, with no paging. It needs no key or sign-in, and costs nothing against the rate limit. A slug that is not served returns a 404 error.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Read a dataset
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • list_backlogList the datasets people have asked publicdata.au to build, most votes first.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "list_backlog" says "list": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    List the datasets people have asked publicdata.au to build, most votes first. Use it to see what is wanted or under way, or to check that a vote counted. To add a vote use upvote_dataset. To read a dataset that is already served use search_datasets. Votes on catalogue records that no entry has claimed yet come back apart, under the vote key search_catalogue uses. The whole backlog comes back in one answer, with no paging, and the call costs nothing against the rate limit.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: List the build backlog
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • list_fieldsList a served dataset's fields, with their types, descriptions, ranges and values, before querying it.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "list_fields" says "list": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    List a served dataset's fields, with their types, descriptions, ranges and values, before querying it. Call it before query_rows or count_rows unless you already know the exact names and values, because where matches values exactly and an unknown field is an error. It also names the key fields diff_versions compares on and the partition fields list_partitions accepts. slug is lowercase letters, digits and hyphens, the part after /d/ in a dataset page URL, such as au-road-deaths. The answer describes the newest version, in one page. The call costs nothing against the rate limit. A slug that is not served or not loaded for queries returns an error.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: List a dataset's fields
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • list_partitionsList the download files that split a served dataset's newest version by one field, such as one file per year.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "list_partitions" says "list": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    List the download files that split a served dataset's newest version by one field, such as one file per year. Use it to hand someone a slice of the data as a file. It gives file links and no rows, so to answer a question use query_rows or count_rows instead, and for the whole table as one file use get_dataset. field must be one of the partition_by fields that list_fields names, and any other field returns a 404 error. Every value comes back in one answer, with no paging. The call costs nothing against the rate limit.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: List partition files
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • query_rowsRead individual rows of a served dataset, filtered across the whole table.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "query_rows" says "query": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Read individual rows of a served dataset, filtered across the whole table. For totals and breakdowns use count_rows, and for files use get_dataset or list_partitions. Field names and values for where, select and order come from list_fields. Filters hold at most 90 values per call, and a list value cannot contain a comma. version can be any date in the version history from get_dataset. A version too large for one file is stored as period parts and answered from them, in period order. A filter on the period field reads only the parts it can match, and parts names the periods read. One page holds up to limit rows, and offset steps through the rest until next_offset is null. An unknown field or version returns an error naming it. Each call costs two of the 60 queries each address may make in 10 seconds.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Query rows
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • search_catalogueSearch every dataset listed on Australia's government portals, including the many publicdata.au does not serve yet.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "search_catalogue" says "search": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Search every dataset listed on Australia's government portals, including the many publicdata.au does not serve yet. Its records describe data held elsewhere, which cannot be queried here. Use it when search_datasets finds nothing, to find where a dataset is published, or to pick one for upvote_dataset. query matches every word against the title, summary and publisher, as search_datasets does. A page holds 20 records, those that can take a vote first. Pass next_offset as offset for the next page, up to 5000. Each call costs three of the 60 queries each address may make in 10 seconds.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Search government portals
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false
  • search_datasetsFind the slug of a served dataset.No findings

    Why it is in this group

    • The name "search_datasets" says "search": a word for reading.
    Description, as the server wrote it
    Find the slug of a served dataset. Start here for any question about Australian government data, since the other tools read only the datasets this finds. Every word in query must match the title, summary, publisher, keywords or a field name. A word matches its plural and other endings but never as a prefix, so bus does not find business. Up to 50 matches come back in one answer, with no paging. If nothing matches, try fewer or broader words, then search_catalogue. Each call costs one of the 60 queries each address may make in 10 seconds.

    Annotations the server declares

    • title: Search datasets
    • readOnlyHint: true
    • destructiveHint: false
    • idempotentHint: true
    • openWorldHint: false

This is not a safety rating, and no finding is not a safety guarantee. The groups and findings come from fixed checks of the tool definitions the server returned on the date shown, not from its code or what it does when called. How the checks work.

Install

Pinned to version 2.44.0. Values in angle brackets are yours to fill in.

claude mcp add --transport http publicdata https://publicdata.au/mcp

Run in a terminal.

Claude Code permissions

Allow the reads, ask before a change, deny the deletes. Paste into .claude/settings.json.

.claude/settings.json
{
  "permissions": {
    "allow": [
      "mcp__publicdata__search_datasets",
      "mcp__publicdata__get_dataset",
      "mcp__publicdata__list_fields",
      "mcp__publicdata__list_partitions",
      "mcp__publicdata__query_rows",
      "mcp__publicdata__count_rows",
      "mcp__publicdata__diff_versions",
      "mcp__publicdata__search_catalogue",
      "mcp__publicdata__list_backlog",
      "mcp__publicdata__search",
      "mcp__publicdata__fetch"
    ],
    "ask": [
      "mcp__publicdata__upvote_dataset"
    ],
    "deny": []
  }
}

Tools that only read are allowed, tools that change things ask first, tools that delete or cancel are denied. It assumes the server is installed as publicdata. Review it before you use it.