Geoff Wiki

Whilst trying to find if it was necessary to provide true full information when you complete a census I discovered this:

“If the ABS was truly interested in statistics only, they would allow people to remain anonymous. An age bracket and a suburb or postcode should be perfectly sufficient for any census or survey. Once they demand names and addresses, it's not statistics anymore. It is the Australian Bureau of Surveillance.”

from:

https://annystudio.com/think/abs-surveys-census-privacy/

The above is a big read. But well worthwhile if you have an interest in privacy.

In the comments to the above article I found this:

“The ABS likes to use the words “compulsory” and “mandatory” when talking about the collection of names. However, it isn't so. These words aren't even mentioned in the Census and Statistics Act. Check for yourself, you can find the full text of the Act on austlii.edu.au. It appears that most data collected by the ABS is done on the basis of voluntary cooperation. The scary words in this context mean that the Act gives the ABS the power to direct someone to provide statistical information, and then to prosecute if that person does not comply. The key words are “statistical information”. As your name is not statistical information, the ABS cannot direct you to provide it, or prosecute you for refusing to give them your name.

Shane, 6 August 2011”

Im not interested in reading an act of parliament that was made in 1905 just to find out if I have to be truthful in my answers to questions on the current census, so ill take what this person says as being correct

When the census act was made in 1905, we did not have all the sophisticated technology we have today. If truly the purpose of a census is statistics to help plan for the future, as the above article points out at the beginning, there are heaps of other ways that governments and public servants can get most of the statistics needed for those decisions.

Two examples come to mind immediately. A question on the census was how many cars do you have. Governments have those records via registrations and publish the figures monthly. So no need for that question.

Second one was how many bedrooms does your house have. Again bureaucrats can find out this information and do publish those figures monthly.

So why the need ask such questions which would only give an answer at a point of time every 5 years when they've already got the information on a monthly basis.

Even the total population of Australia, does not need a census to establish what it is. Knowing a starting figure, at any point in time, and then adding births and subtracting deaths gives the total population.

Same applies for number of people at school, qualifications, people visiting doctors etcetera.

So do we need a census at all.

Just because we have all these statistics that are published by the ABS it does not necessarily mean they are relied upon. In many cases obviously they are not. This is evidenced by the fact that many things are done by government that completely ignored the satistics

Considering that possibility all the statistics that are effective users by government could be obtained without the need to perform a census, I wonder if anyone has done a cost Benefit analysis on having a census, in our modern technology society? Or do we continue to have a census because we have previously had them.

See the 5 monkey principal

So if I where to answer the question how many cars in the household as 99 (the maximum you can enter) would they or could they “legally” check if I was telling the truth? And if so would or could they invade the privacy of my house to find our.

Or would they just check or cross reference my answer with registration records, which could be an invasion of my non household information.

I dont no. I'm sure most people don't know and probably don't care.

But I'm reminded of a statement I heard some time ago that eventually governments and businesses will know more about individuals than they know about themself. If that has not happened already.