This year's Census could cost you up to $1800

This year's Census could cost you up to $1800

THOSE who don’t fill out the Census will face fines of $180 per day, while those who submit misleading information could pay up to $1800.

Next week Australian households will need to provide information on their income, education and backgrounds as part of the compulsory August 9 Census.

The government collects a snapshot of information about Australians every five years to help estimate the country’s population and to plan services for housing, transport, education, industry, hospitals and the environment.

Households will need to fill out a form based on where they are on the Tuesday night, but they have until mid-September to submit the information.

People who do not complete the survey by mid-September may face a fine of up to $180 per day until the form is returned.

In contrast, those who didn’t vote in the Federal Election last month only got fined $20.

Usually the information is only kept for 18 months but Labor wants the federal government to explain why details will now be kept for four years.

Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh told reporters in Canberra yesterday it was unclear which minister was responsible for the survey and why privacy provisions had changed.

But he also urged people not to spoil their Census forms by giving false information, no matter how frustrated they were.

Those providing misleading statements or information face a whopping fine of up to $1800.

More than two thirds of Australian households are this year expected to answer the compulsory 61-question survey online, while remote residents will receive the traditional paper version to return through the post.

Millions of letters with unique logon codes and online instructions will be sent out.

In addition 38,000 field officers will doorknock Australian homes as a reminder to submit a paper form or help out the less tech savvy.

NSW Census director Liz Bolzan said the Census offered “a descriptive count of everyone in Australia on the one night, and of their dwellings”.

“It’s the basis of our population estimates so it’s critical for our electoral system and distribution of government funds,” Ms Bolzan said.

The Census sheds light on small geographic areas on topics including education and English proficiency and helps determine “where schools, hospitals and roads need to go”, she said.

Respondent names and addresses will be retained for up to four years after collection, previously they were destroyed after 18 months.

“They will be destroyed earlier than this if there is no longer any community benefit in their retention,” Ms Bolzan said, adding that combining the data with other surveys can present “a richer and more dynamic statistical picture of Australia”.

Religious affiliation is the only non-compulsory question and this year ‘No Religion’ will be at the top of the options list, in line with international practice.

Almost 4.8 million people (22.3 per cent of respondents) selected No Religion in the last Census, while 25.3 per cent elected Catholic.

“As the second most popular option in 2011, it doesn’t make sense to have it mixed in with the religions,” Ms Bolzan said. Going digital had saved $100 million in production costs, she said.

A penalty of $180 per day will be enforced after reminder letters and field staff visits cease in mid-September.