2026 Census Topic Review: Testing Research Collection Notice

Every Census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) makes a recommendation to the Australian Government on the topics that could be included in the Census. From September 2023 to June 2024, the ABS is undertaking testing on questions the ABS is considering as part of this recommendation for the 2026 Census. We need to ensure the findings of our testing are representative of Australia’s diverse population. The Testing research - Expression of interest questionnaire helps the ABS to select participants for testing that reflect this diversity.    

This Collection Notice explains the collection and use of personal information in the questionnaire used for the 2026 Census topic testing process. 

Your personal information is being collected by the ABS through the technology service provider Microsoft via the platform Microsoft Forms (MS Forms).  

The ABS Privacy Policy for Managing and Operating Our Business provides details about how we (the ABS) manage and protect your personal information.  

This questionnaire is voluntary and all questions are optional.

The ABS will collect and hold personal information that you provide:  

• First name  
• Telephone number  
• Email address  
• State/Territory/area of residence  
• Age (range) 
• Household and family composition

The ABS will also collect and hold sensitive information that you provide which may include: 

• Gender
• Racial or ethnic origin  
• Health or disability information 
• Religious beliefs or affiliations 
• Philosophical beliefs 
• Sexual orientation or practices 

The ABS will use personal information in your questionnaire to: 

• Select participants for testing that reflect Australia’s diverse population.   
• Contact selected participants to attend a testing session. 

We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Archives Act 1983 in the storage, use and destruction of your personal information collected. 

When personal information is collected on the questionnaire, it is stored on Microsoft servers based in the United States. 

The ABS will regularly extract a copy of completed questionnaires and store these in the secure ABS environment. The ABS will delete your questionnaire from the Microsoft servers as soon as the extraction takes place. The ABS Privacy Policy for Managing and Operating Our Business provides more information about how we handle your personal information. The ABS will delete your information no later than July 2024 from both MS Forms and the secure ABS environment.

We may contact you to request we keep your personal information for a further defined period of time and will only keep the information for that period with your written consent.  

Except for Microsoft in their role as technology service provider, the ABS will not: 

• share information in a way that would identify you  
• share information with private organisations, such as direct marketing companies 
• share information with other government agencies for compliance or regulation activities. 

If you need to update the personal contact information you provided in your questionnaire, or request that the ABS delete your personal information and questionnaire, you can contact the ABS on 1300 135 070 or email census.content@abs.gov.au. 

The ABS Privacy Policy for Managing and Operating Our Business has information about how you can make a complaint if you feel we have not adequately protected your privacy. The Policy describes how we will respond to your complaint, and what you can do if you are not satisfied with our response. 

You can contact the ABS Privacy Officer (details below) who will respond to enquiries or assist with complaints. 

By email: privacy@abs.gov.au 

By post: ABS Privacy Officer 
Australian Bureau of Statistics 
Locked Bag 10, Belconnen ACT 2617