Senate Inquiry into Australian Census 2016: your chance to finally have a say on the ABS, personal privacy, data retention and #CensusFail

On 31 August 2016, the Senate referred an inquiry into the 2016 Census to the Senate Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2016.

The Inquiry terms of reference are:

The 2016 Census, with particular reference to:

1. the preparation, administration and management on the part of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Government in the lead up to the 2016 Census;
2. the scope, collection, retention, security and use of data obtained in the 2016 Census;
3. arrangements, including contractual arrangements, in respect of the information technology aspects of the Census;
4. the shutting down of the Census website on the evening of 9 August 2016, the factors leading to that shutdown and the reasons given, and the support provided by government agencies, including the Australian Signals Directorate;
5. the response rate to the Census and factors that may have affected the response rate;
6. privacy concerns in respect of the 2016 Census, including the use of data linking, information security and statistical linkage keys;
7. Australia’s Census of Population and Housing generally, including purpose, scope, regularity and cost and benefits;
8. the adequacy of funding and resources to the ABS;
9. ministerial oversight and responsibility; and
10. any related matters.

Submissions close on 21 September 2016.

Address for submissions:

Senate Standing Committees on Economics
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3540
Fax: +61 2 6277 5719
economics.sen@aph.gov.au

Online submissions may be lodged here.