Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne has criticised federal politicians who are refusing to provide their names and addresses on tonight's census forms, accusing them of indulging in "tinfoil hat" politics.

Key points: Ludlam, Rice, Hanson-Young, Rhiannon, Waters, Xenophon, Lambie refusing to give names in census

Ludlam, Rice, Hanson-Young, Rhiannon, Waters, Xenophon, Lambie refusing to give names in census Xenophon says human rights "assaulted", providing name should be optional

Xenophon says human rights "assaulted", providing name should be optional Pyne warns senators to fill out form in full or risk damaging regions

The compulsory survey has been plagued by concerns over privacy and cyber security since the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced it would extend the time it keeps personal details of Australians from 18 months to four years.

Greens senators Scott Ludlam, Janet Rice, Sarah Hanson-Young, Lee Rhiannon and Larissa Waters have joined fellow crossbenchers Nick Xenophon and Jacqui Lambie in saying they will refuse to give their names when they fill the census out.

People who do not complete the survey could face a $180-a-day fine.

Mr Pyne told the ABC he would be filling out his census form in full, and warned senators they should too, or risk damaging the regions they represent.

He said the information gathered — which is used to set funding levels for health and education services — is also used to set electoral boundaries.

"I think Senator Xenophon is engaging in somewhat of a tinfoil hat kind of politics when he says that he's raising doubts about the census," he said.

The minister responsible for the census, Small Business Minister Michael McCormack, told the ABC it was up to the ABS if the senators were fined, saying there were penalties in place for people who "wilfully obstruct" the census.

Mr McCormack urged all parliamentarians to "get on board", citing the security measures in place.

"The ABS has an impeccable record when it comes to privacy and security," he said.

"Courts can't access the information, ministers can't and indeed the Prime Minister can't."

But Senator Ludlam cited the recent hacking of government websites as a cause for concern.

"If the US Department of State, and the CIA, and the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection weren't able to prevent to prevent themselves from being hacked — if these big, well resourced entities aren't able to protect people's private information, there's nothing about the ABS that gives you confidence that couldn't happen in the future," he said.

Xenophon says census an 'assault' on human rights

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 5 minutes 13 seconds 5 m How controversial is the simple act of providing your name? ( David Lipson )

His comments came after Senator Xenophon called on the Government to allow people to choose whether to provide their name.

"The whole process has been a botched one and disrespectful to Australians in terms of their human rights or privacy being assaulted in this way," the crossbencher said.

"In effect through the codification of names, which I understand is an anagram of names, you'll be able to work out who's who and track them between censuses.

"No longer a snapshot, but as I said, a mobile CCTV from census to census."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he would be filling out the census, urging people to ignore the "grandstanding".

Mr Shorten said he understood some people’s concerns, citing the Government's "bungling" of the debate.

"I will be filling out the census tonight with my family," he said.

"I think Australians should do that. It adds a lot more benefit to the nation than it causes harm. I would ask people to please, fill in the census."

Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh also criticised the Government's handling of public concerns.

Mr Leigh said Mr McCormack — who yesterday dismissed concerns as "much ado about nothing" — had been slow out of the blocks in placating the public.

Meanwhile, major landmarks across the country, including Sydney's Opera House, will turn green tonight to remind Australians to complete the census.

Two-thirds of people are expected to submit an online form, which still requires a code sent in the post.

Paper forms need to be returned by September 18, while people have until September 23 to fill out an online form.

The first results will be released in April, two months earlier than the previous census in 2011.