2021 Australian census

The 2021 Australian census, simply called the 2021 Census, will be the eighteenth national Census of Population and Housing in Australia. The 2021 Census will occur on 10 August 2021, and will be run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).[1][2]

2021 Census

10 August 2021

General information
CountryAustralia
Topics
Trial census27 October 2020
AuthorityAustralian Bureau of Statistics
Websitecensus.abs.gov.au

Overview

In Australia, completing the census is compulsory for all people in Australia on Census Night, only excluding foreign diplomats and their families. Census data is used to "help governments, businesses, not for profit and community organisations across the country make informed decisions", including helping governments to plan the provision of services.[2] An independent report from Lateral Economics found that for every $1 of investment on the census, $6 of benefits are created in the Australian economy.[3]

Since the 2001 Census, all households have the option of allowing their census data, including personal information such as names and addresses, to be stored by the National Archives of Australia (NAA) for 99 years. 99 years after Census Night, the NAA will release that data to the public in a Census Time Capsule. Censuses stored by the NAA cannot by accessed, amended, or retrieved by everyone, including courts and tribunal, until their release, the first of which will occur in 2100.[4]

The 2020 Census Test occurred on 27 October 2020 with around 100,000 households from Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, and Canberra, as well as communities in Karratha, Warrnambool, and Alice Springs Town Camps.[5]

Topics

Every census, the ABS makes a recommendation to the Australian Government on the topics to be included, based on the benefit that data would provide to Australia. Through the Census and Statistics Amendment (Statistical Information) Regulations 2020, the federal parliament approves topics that may be included. For the 2021 census, the ABS has been authorised to include questions relating to long-term health conditions and service in the Australian Defence Force, and will not continue asking questions about home internet access considering the rise of mobile devices. This represents the first significant change to census topics since 2006.[6]

Alongside these two new topics, the 2021 Census will continue to ask questions related to:[6]

  • population
  • sex and gender
  • households and families
  • Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples
  • income and work
  • unpaid work and care
  • education and training
  • disability and carers
  • housing
  • location
  • transport
  • cultural diversity
  • religion

Consultations

Through late 2017, the ABS began discussions with major census data users on what was needed. From 3 April to 30 June 2018, a formal consultation process occurred on the online "ABS Consultation Hub", with the ABS receiving 450 submissions, 315 of which were published with consent.[7]

Collection

Since 2006, the ABS has allowed the census to be completed online, moving in 2016 to be digital-first. Like 2016, the 2021 Census will be collected online primarily, with paper census forms being available on request for any household that would like it. In 2016, around a third of all households requested and completed their census using the paper form. It was planned that in late October 2019, the ABS would publish a market opportunity to seek a commercial partner to build the 2021 Census Digital Service.[8]

See also

References

  1. "2021 Census questions and date announced". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  2. "2021 Census overview". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  3. "Valuing the Australian Census" (PDF). Australian Bureau of Statistics. Lateral Economics. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. "Census Time Capsule". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  5. "Welcome to the 2020 Census Test". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  6. "Review of 2021 Census topics". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. "Review of 2021 Census Topics". ABS Consultation Hub. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. "Sourcing the 2021 Census Digital Service". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
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