I was a public servant once, and I think many things could be improved, but all in all they are a group of people trying hard to give us a cohesive nation and value for money. I can equally rant about some private industry groups and their attitude that the public is there to be milked.
The census was originally meant as a head count so that federal funding to states could be calculated. If you duck the census somehow then you've done your state out of roughly $10,000 - per person! Per year! So roughly $50,000 between census per person.
If you spend a fortune on a head count, then it's only logical to collect other useful social information. Do you not want to live in an advanced country with well thought out infrastructure, education, health etc?
Your public service at work. Most federal departments don't receive annual budget top ups to compensate their staff due to inflation etc. For years the fed gov has been clawing back a small percentage of original budget each year, making the pot smaller and smaller - salary increases to staff are generally based on implementation of new cost saving technology, or staff leaving. Your government wants to save money, that's why the time is ripe to start using computer technology.
Your name and address in the census can be used to link your information if you are included in an ABS health sample survey for example. This enhances the quality of the sample survey, the data being weighted for the general population and ensure confidentiality.
Any information collection process will change some of the questions over time depending on what society is focusing on at the time. The general population are not interested in jedi or who owns a land rover, but yes number of vehicles for road infrastructure, journeys to work etc. But if you want factual information to judge a persons claims we are being over run by some ethnic group or religious group, then who are you going to call - ABS and the census.
And don't forget, newborns are people too - hence name everyone in the household - so you hopefully wont forget the babies (remember approx $10k each).
Not critical that the census be completed on the night, as long as you can remember the details of that night - this is meant to be a snap shot of the nation at one moment in time - not a moving feast. Usual residence and place where you are on the night help tourist communities budget services for peak population load and normal load and similarly help the community where you normally live. Remote area collection is over weeks. But don't be tardy, as there are processing deadlines for the information. No form or access, then call them!
ABS is ranked very highly against similar agencies overseas for security and integrity of its operations - no minister can call the ABS and say I don't like the results, so tweak them, withhold them.
Some countries don't have a census, but rather rely on administrative data. Ours is part of the constitution - don't want a census then lobby your politicians for a referendum.
So what's the next topic, compulsory voting or how I can winge about the result cause I was not compelled to get out of bed (good for seeing the pound drop so you can buy more ashcroft stuff).
