For many, this year’s Census will be done online.
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As well as the change to the digital format, the ABS will retain the names and addresses of every individual, rather than destroying them after a set time.
While the forms are all in English, Mr Waymouth said they had worked with community groups to offer workshops to people who spoke other languages, and those doing it online would be able to use translators if needed.
The Census is the most important data source we have in Australia to help plan for the future.
“In light of the security threats observed in recent years, we are afraid that no matter how strong the security capability of the ABS, the risk is real and should this data leak the impact would be huge”.
‘The security of their personal details is absolute and that is protected by law and by practice, ‘ he told reporters in Canberra.
Mr Kalisch said Australians could be assured that their information would be treated securely.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had been discussing the concerns around the census with Mr Morrison and Mr McCormack, but Australians could trust the ABS.
“We’ve got a real snail-mail system and sometimes it takes three days for mail to move across Bathurst, let alone getting from where [the Census form] is posted from”, he said.
When asked if he believed this year’s Census had been handled poorly, Mr Kalisch responded that “we’re well ahead of where we thought we would be”.
Treasurer Scott Morrison, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the minister responsible for the ABS Michael McCormack have been forced to defend the census planned for August 9 amid privacy concerns, saying the change to an online format will save taxpayers millions.
Sixty-five per cent of Australian are expected to complete the census online this year, doubling the online response rate of 2011.
“The message suggests I ring the inquiry service between 8am and 8pm, but of course that line is jammed with callers”.
Senator Xenophon and his party’s Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie said the transition had been mishandled.
Misel Burford, who will fill out her first census on Tuesday next week, said for young people a common reason for not completing the survey was that many see it “as a joke”.
“If the Census is meant to be a snapshot of Australia on [August 9], I wonder if it’ll end up being more like timelapse photography that’s very blurred – because it seems that there is a lot of chaos and dysfunction in the way it is rolled out”, he said.
Just 100 were issued at the last census.
Older Australians have also said they are anxious about being fined for not completing the census on time.
“The personal information collected for the census is not shared with anyone, including, importantly, other government departments and agencies”, he said.
Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh defended the process, but called on the government to support it.
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It said the data required to fill out the Census was small, and should not add too much pressure on internet providers.
