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The Census of Population and Housing is the largest statistical operation undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It aims to accurately measure the number of people in Australia on Census Night, their key characteristics, and the dwellings in which they live.
The scope of the Census is all people in Australia on Census Night, other than foreign diplomats and their families. Visitors to Australia are counted regardless of how long they have been in the country or how long they plan to stay. Australian residents out of the country on Census Night are not included.
The 2006 Census was conducted on 8 August 2006. The next Census will be conducted on 9 August, 2011.
IS IT COMPULSORY?
Ultimately, yes. The Census and Statistics Act (1905) which authorises the Census also provides for the compulsory completion of the Census form.
On Census Night, you are asked to answer the questions on the Census form. If you do not answer the questions, the Australian Statistician has the power to direct you to provide the information. If he does this, you have a legal obligation to comply. The Census and Statistics Act (1905) provides for penalties of up to $110 per day for people convicted of failing to complete and return a form when directed to do so.
WHY IS THE CENSUS NEEDED?
The Census provides a snapshot of the nation, which helps define who we are. It underpins Australia's democracy and is crucial to communities, private institutions and all levels of government in the planning of services and facilities.
Federal funding arrangements to the states and territories is also based on Census figures. Census information is used as the basis for the allocation of GST revenue to the states and territories.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A CENSUS?
The Census is of vital importance to Australian communities.
Community organisations, private institutions and all levels of government use Census figures as the basis for many planning decisions, such as where to provide services for the elderly and young people.
The number of seats each state and territory has in the House of Representatives is also based on Census figures, as are federal funding arrangements to the states and territories. Census information is used as the basis for allocation of GST revenue to the states and territories.
All ABS population figures are based on the Census.
WHO IS COUNTED IN THE 2006 CENSUS?
The Census includes all people, except foreign diplomats and their families, who are in Australia and its internal and external Territories on Census Night. This includes:
- People working or living on boats in Australian waters.
- Visitors to Australia, regardless of how long they've been in the country or how long they plan to stay.
- People outside but normally resident in Australia who are not subject to outbound migration formalities, such as those on oil and gas rigs off the Australian coast.
- People of the Torres Strait Islands.
- People of the Territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island - following the enactment of the Territories Reform Act 1992, the results for these Territories were included in the counts for Australia for the first time in 1996.
- Peoples "over-wintering" in the Australian Antarctic Territory.
- Overseas visitors to Australia.
- Homeless people.
- People on aeroplanes travelling between Australian destinations on Census Night.
- People on ships travelling between Australian destinations on Census Night.
- All children, including newborn babies born before midnight on Census Night.
- People in detention centres.
- People in prison.
- Transport drivers on the road.
- People in hospitals and institutions.
Australian citizens and residents who are out of the country on Census Night are out of the scope of the Census and are generally not included unless they have left the country without being required to undertake departure formalities, for example, naval personnel on-board ships away from Australia.
The ABS uses emigration and immigration data to take into account residents, citizens and non-citizens in the calculation of population figures
The Census aims to:
- measure the population - accurately.
- provide certain key characteristics of everyone in Australia on Census Night.
- understand better the dwellings in which Australian people live.
- provide timely, high quality and relevant information for small geographic areas and small population groups.
- complement the information provided by other ABS surveys.
THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE CENSUS
The United Nations (UN) urges Member States to carry out population and housing Censuses under the World Population and Housing Census Program.
The UN regards periodic population and housing Censuses for countries and administrative areas within them as essential activities to ensure improvement of living standards. Censuses are regarded as one of the primary sources of information needed for programs aimed at planning, effective development, as well as monitoring population issues, and socioeconomic and environmental trends and policies.
Australia is a world leader in conducting Censuses. Senior staff of the ABS give guidance in managing Census operations to many countries throughout the world, giving particular attention to advance planning and the timely dissemination of Census results to all users.
This page first published 8 February 2006, last updated 19 March 2009
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