2901.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Census Dictionary, 2016  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/08/2016   
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Name

The collection of names and addresses in the Census is a critical part of ensuring the quality and value of the Census.

Names are collected in the Census for a number of reasons, including:
  • to assist householders completing the form to report the relevant information for each person
  • to ensure the Census covers the entire population and data is of high quality
  • to enhance the value of Census data, by combining it with other national datasets to better inform government decisions in important areas such as health, education, infrastructure and the economy.

Following a consultation process and Privacy Impact Assessment the ABS made the decision to retain the names and addresses collected on 2016 Census forms for up to 4 years. The names will be used to generate anonymised keys that can be used to combine existing data sets to create richer and more valuable statistics for Australians.

See also Confidentiality, Name and Address Retention, Census Time Capsule.





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