I suppose that because I've relied so much in the past
both as a student and in my profession on
the information and data supplied by the Australian Bureau
of Statistics that I simply don't question the validity of
the Census. I've always assumed that an accurate Census
count will help people get the services they need.

Things like education, health services et cetera are all
planned using Census information - so there is a need
for everyone in their households to be counted. As for
religion? Perhaps that is related to the funding that goes
into supporting Churches and Schools in the area.

Either way I can't see why anyone would object as the
information is completely private and protected by law.

Jayb, much as all it would be a great idea, they could never do that.

Some other party, & the media, on a slow day, would get all that information, & flay the government alive with the proof that it is going against the peoples desires.

As it is ministers can claim they are doing what the people want, & some people actually believe them.

planning for future building projects... but governments. Any thoughts?
pelican,
hopefully soon we'll get a reasonable Government again which can make use of the revelations from the survey. The survey exposes many shortfalls & a more sensible Government will do more sensible thing & in turn people will become more sensible for some time until we're outnumbered again by the insensible. And so the wheel turns.

lexie might find census stats great
but the thing is a 7 year snapshot soon gets out of date

[recall big australia?...
all them 'boat people..that have added millions
to the 'stats'..in the last 7 years]

a yearly senseus
with our taxreturns
might make more sense..in todays instant info market

the facts are out of date mate
basing action on them..is putting faith on footings laid on sand
they get more wrong every year...

[people lie..
go figure eh]

make everyone declare their full asset value
[how much do you own..
not your income..[with mugs thinking income is wage]

the census is full of info
supplied by ignorants and self intrest

lets really get to the root of the issue
based on facts.,.not what people write at night by candel light
rehhed up in thin blankets while the rich sceme their latest tax grab

taxing hot air ans steam

Lexi wrote: "Either way I can't see why anyone would object as the
information is completely private and protected by law".

Private? It has the filler-inner's name on it - the collector can read it to his/her heart's content (especially if she's a nosy neighbour), show it to her friends and family, take photo-copies if she really wants.

"Protected by law"! Like CSA files? Like ATO files? Police files? All of which are regularly illegally accessed. We are protected by law from theft and a myriad of other crimes - anyone who has not been a victim despite being "protected by law"?

The fact remains that if people want to access our
information they can do it via electoral roles,
banks, insurance companies, local councils,
service providers, postal services, credit companies,
Medicare, hospital records, and the list goes on.