The Turnbull government's struggle to explain exactly went wrong in the Australian census intensified on Friday, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull forced to counter a senior minister's assertion that the alleged cyber attacks originated in Australia.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne on Friday morning contradicted previous government suggestions that the census website was attacked from overseas, instead stating the interference came from "elements here in Australia".

"Obviously it was disrupted on Tuesday night by elements here in Australia but that doesn't mean that anybody's privacy has been breached," Mr Pyne told his breakfast television audience on the Nine Network.

Mr Pyne's office clarified to Fairfax Media that the investigation was ongoing and that the minister was speculating on existing commentary.