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The Forum > Article Comments > 2016 is census year. But why do we bother? > Comments

2016 is census year. But why do we bother? : Comments

By Ross Elliott, published 1/12/2015

You can almost guarantee that sections of industry, media, think tanks and various lobby groups will either turn blind eyes to the findings, or find ways to contort the findings to suit their various agendas.

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Aborigionals were here for thousands of years, and did not have a written language or assimilated language. Doesn’t that tell you that they want to be left alone. European amenities are not in their DNA.
Posted by 579, Tuesday, 1 December 2015 10:15:34 AM
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Hi Imustbeatotalwanker,

You make the outrageous claim that "Aboriginal Australians were better educated before 1972 than they are now."

University graduate numbers back then were barely in double figures, and now are around 40,000. Where is the slightest evidence for you ridiculous claim ?

But do you mean education of people in what used to be missions, but are now 'communities ' ? i.e. the education level of people, before lifelong welfare kicked in, was better ?

I'm inclined to agree with you: after all, if people will never need to get a job, they and their kids also will never really need any schooling, will they ? That's how the logic goes, ghastly and stupid as it may be.

That's what makes Noel Pearson's task so much harder in trying to get kids to stay at school. That's why authorities have to put in swimming pools, give free meals, let the boys kick a footy all bloody day, etc. just to persuade kids just to turn up.

So what might happen if BOTH all those 'persuasions' AND the right never to work were scrapped ? That all able-bodied people except mothers with kids should be required to either look for work, or do genuine study to get them into work ? Would that send a message to families to send their kids to school, because eventually they will have to work, and more schooling might mean a better job ? Or will they not see the connection ?

But so much water has flowed under the bridge now, the people have damaged themselves so much in terms of their health, their education and their employability, that maybe that would be disastrous. As well, of course the job market has dried up. Frankly, I think people in remote 'communities' are stuffed. And, on the whole, they have done it to themselves.

The Census: I'm betting Indigenous urban populations have risen much faster than remote populations, which may have actually declined - nd much of that population decline may be not just from out-migration, but actual decline in the birth-rate.

Joe
Posted by Loudmouth, Tuesday, 1 December 2015 10:22:44 AM
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Those of us who are interested in the history of our own families are very thankful that many of the censuses of the past have been saved.

I find that a country counting and classifying its citizenry to be a useful and logical exercise.
Posted by Is Mise, Tuesday, 1 December 2015 10:39:11 AM
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Is Mise says "I find that a country counting and classifying its citizenry to be a useful and logical exercise."

You say that like it's a good thing. History shows that governments have a habit of misusing such information.

More generally, think about the questions asked (how far did you travel, what's your income and so forth) and ask yourself how likely it is that people will take a guess, say what they think will sound good (which is more likely given that the papers are now no longer destroyed), or just plain lie.

The government already snorks up vast amounts of information every day and Australian governments have not exactly been shy about data sharing and matching.
Posted by Mayan, Tuesday, 1 December 2015 11:07:17 AM
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The 'blind eye' this writer is probably talking about is the one hopefully turned on his greedy Property Council mates who are always wanting an excuse to develop and build more and more property that is not needed, but which fills their insatiable coffers.
Posted by ttbn, Tuesday, 1 December 2015 11:14:41 AM
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We need this census to know that affordable housing is a thing of the past, that the gap between the haves and the have nots is getting ever wider, with the concept of fairness further disappearing, and that even fewer income earning folk are shouldering our combined tax liability!

And instead of just creating a simple fail safe system ,where tax avoidance is impossible, i.e. an unavoidable but modest expenditure tax taken from all expenditure?

The government creates new layers of complexity to allow some of these practises to continue?

Even while they stand steadfast and solid and rant and rave against it and the raft of unfair practiss it gives rise to?
Rhrosty.
Posted by Rhrosty, Tuesday, 1 December 2015 11:39:03 AM
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