Census and Statistics Regulation 2016

I, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), GovernorGeneral of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following regulation.

Dated 05 May 2016

Peter Cosgrove

GovernorGeneral

By His Excellency’s Command

Alex Hawke

Assistant Minister to the Treasurer
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1 Name

2 Commencement

3 Authority

4 Schedules

5 Definitions

6 Extension of the Act to external Territories

7 Engagement of persons to assist the Statistician

8 Undertaking of fidelity and secrecy form

Part 2—The Census

9 Statistical information for the Census—persons

10 Statistical information for the Census—household accommodated on the Census night in a private dwelling

11 Statistical information for the Census—private dwelling

12 Statistical information for the Census—dwelling other than a private dwelling

Part 3—Statistics

13 Statistical information that may be collected for publication

Part 4—Administration

14 Powers of entry—prescribed classes of premises

15 Entry to prescribed premises

16 Evidentiary certificates

Part 5—Transitional Matters

17 Things done under the Statistics Regulations 1983

Schedule 1—Undertaking of fidelity and secrecy

Schedule 2—Repeals

Census and Statistics (Census) Regulation 2015

Statistics Regulations 1983

Part 1Preliminary

 

1  Name

  This is the Census and Statistics Regulation 2016.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  The whole of this instrument

1 October 2016.

1 October 2016

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3  Authority

  This instrument is made under the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

4  Schedules

  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

5  Definitions

Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:

(a) authorised officer;

(b) Bureau;

(c) Census day;

(d) Statistician.

  In this instrument:

Act means the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

Census night means the night of the Census day for a Census.

prescribed premises means premises in a class of premises prescribed by section 14.

private dwelling means a dwelling other than:

 (a) a hotel, motel, hostel or boarding house; or

 (b) a dwelling used solely or principally as sleeping accommodation by members of a group of persons who share common living or dining areas or other common amenities; or

 (c) a religious institution; or

 (d) a residential institution (including a hospital, nursing home, school, university, college, orphanage, house of refuge, prison or other penal or corrective institution); or

 (e) a vessel, other than a houseboat, used in navigation by water.

6  Extension of the Act to external Territories

  For section 2 of the Act, the following external Territories are prescribed:

 (a) Norfolk Island;

 (b) the Territory of Christmas Island;

 (c) the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

7  Engagement of persons to assist the Statistician

 (1) For paragraph (b) of the definition of officer in section 3 of the Act, the Statistician may engage persons, including members of the staff of the Bureau referred to in subsection 16(1) of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975, to assist in the carrying out of the functions of the Statistician.

 (2) A person engaged by the Statistician under subsection (1) must carry out such duties as the Statistician considers will assist in the carrying out of the functions of the Statistician.

8  Undertaking of fidelity and secrecy form

  For the purposes of section 7 of the Act the form set out in Schedule 1 is prescribed.

Part 2The Census

 

9  Statistical information for the Censuspersons

  For subsection 8(3) of the Act, the matters mentioned in the following table are prescribed in relation to persons.

 

Statistical information for the Censuspersons

Item

Matter

1

Name

2

Sex

3

Date of birth or age last birthday

4

Relationship to the other persons, if any, who spend the Census night in the same accommodation

5

Present marital status

6

Address of usual residence

7

Address of usual residence 1 year before the Census day

8

Address of usual residence 5 years before the Census day

9

Religion or religious denomination

10

Citizenship

11

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin

12

Ancestry

13

Country of birth

14

Country of birth of each parent

15

For a person not born in Australia—the year of the person’s first arrival in Australia

16

Languages spoken at home

17

For a person who speaks a language other than English at home—his or her proficiency in speaking English

18

Present attendance at an educational institution, including the type of institution attended (if any)

19

For a person who is not less than 15 years of age, the following:

(a) the highest level of primary or secondary school completed;

(b) educational qualifications;

(c) labour force status;

(d) income;

(e) domestic activities;

(f) the provision of unpaid care due to the disability, long term illness or old age of another person;

(g) the provision of care to a child, without pay;

(h) voluntary work through an organisation or group

20

For a person who is not less than 15 years of age and was employed (including selfemployed) during the week immediately preceding the Census day, the following:

(a) status in employment during that week;

(b) occupation during that week;

(c) the name and address of the undertaking in which the person was employed during that week;

(d) the main kind of business or industry carried on, or service provided, by that undertaking during that week;

(e) the hours worked by the person during that week;

(f) the main duties or tasks that the person usually performs in the occupation;

(g) the mode of travel to work by the person on the Census day;

(h) if the person owns a business, the total number of persons who are employed by the business

21

The need for assistance with, or the supervision of another person for, any of the following activities (including the reason for the need):

(a) self care;

(b) body movement;

(c) communication

22

For a female who is not less than 15 years of age—the number of children to whom she has given birth

10  Statistical information for the Censushousehold accommodated on the Census night in a private dwelling

  For subsection 8(3) of the Act, the matters mentioned in the following table are prescribed in relation to a household accommodated on the Census night in a private dwelling.

 

Statistical information for the Censushousehold accommodated on the Census night in a private dwelling

Item

Matter

1

The address on the Census night

2

For a person who is usually a member of the household but is absent from the household accommodation on the Census night, the following:

(a) name;

(b) sex;

(c) date of birth or age last birthday;

(d) student status;

(e) relationship to other members of the household;

(f) Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin

3

The right, title or interest of the household in the household’s accommodation

4

The number of bedrooms in the dwelling

5

The rent or loan repayments payable by the household for its accommodation

6

If the dwelling is rented—the nature of the person or body to whom rent is paid

7

The number of registered motor vehicles, garaged or parked at or near the dwelling on the Census night, that are owned or used by residents of the dwelling

8

Access to the internet at the dwelling

11  Statistical information for the Censusprivate dwelling

  For subsection 8(3) of the Act, the matters mentioned in the following table are prescribed in relation to a private dwelling.

 

Statistical information for the Censusprivate dwelling

Item

Matter

1

The structure

2

The location

3

The status of a person in the dwelling

12  Statistical information for the Censusdwelling other than a private dwelling

  For subsection 8(3) of the Act, the matters mentioned in the following table are prescribed in relation to a dwelling other than a private dwelling.

 

Statistical information for the Censusdwelling other than a private dwelling

Item

Matter

1

The classification of the dwelling by reference to its purpose

2

The status of a person in the dwelling

3

The address of the dwelling

4

The name (if any) of the dwelling

5

The number of persons resident in the dwelling

Part 3Statistics

 

13  Statistical information that may be collected for publication

  For section 9 of the Act, the matters mentioned in the following table are prescribed.

 

Statistical information for publication

Item

Matter

1

Accidents and injuries

2

Agricultural, apicultural, poultry, dairying and pastoral industries and related service industries

3

Assets, liabilities and financial operations and transactions of a natural person or an organisation

4

Banking

5

Births, deaths, marriages and divorces

6

Business, professional, personal and household services

7

Communications

8

Conditions of employment

9

Conservation and environment

10

Construction and demolition

11

Crime

12

Cultural activities

13

The Defence Force and police forces

14

Education

15

Employers’ and employees’ associations

16

Employment and unemployment

17

Energy

18

Finance

19

Fishing, hunting and trapping

20

Food preparation and food consumption

21

Forestry, saw milling and related service industries

22

Health benefit and health insurance schemes

23

Health, health services and quarantine

24

Housing

25

Income, expenditure and savings in relation to a person, household or family

26

Industrial disputes and arbitration

27

Insurance

28

Investment

29

Land tenure and occupancy

30

Law

31

Local government

32

Manufacturing

33

Migration

34

Mining, mineral and petroleum exploration, quarrying and related service industries

35

Overseas transactions

36

Ownership and control of property

37

Pension and superannuation schemes

38

Population and the social, economic and demographic characteristics of the population

39

Prices and charges

40

Public safety

41

Real estate including land and property development

42

Recreation and entertainment

43

Repairs and maintenance

44

Scientific research and development

45

Social and welfare services

46

Taxation

47

Tourism

48

Trade and commerce

49

Transport and storage

50

Wages, earnings, hours of employment and workers’ compensation

51

Water resources

52

Wholesaling and retailing

Part 4Administration

 

14  Powers of entry—prescribed classes of premises

  For subsection 18(1) of the Act, the classes of premises mentioned in the following table are prescribed.

 

Prescribed classes of premises

Item

Matter

1

For hotels and motels—the parts of the premises consisting of:

(a) the foyer; and

(b) any reception area; and

(c) any corridor; and

(d) any other area that is generally open to the public

2

Boarding houses

3

Hostels

4

For a building that contains flats or home units—a common area that is generally open to residents of the building

5

Caravan parks

6

Camping grounds

7

Construction camps

8

Mining camps

9

Premises being used in connection with agricultural, apicultural, poultry, dairying or pastoral industries

10

Business premises

11

For a housing development that is not open to the public—a common area that is generally open to residents of the development

12

The land surrounding premises mentioned in any of items 1 to 11, to the extent that the land:

(a) is not separately occupied; and

(b) is not used for the purposes of the residence or sleeping accommodation of a person or persons

13

The land surrounding a dwellinghouse (including a flat or home unit), to the extent that the land:

(a) is not separately occupied; and

(b) is not used for the purposes of the residence or sleeping accommodation of a person or persons

Note: The premises mentioned in the table do not include a dwellinghouse (including a flat or home unit), or a part of any other premises that is separately occupied or used for the purposes of the residence or sleeping accommodation of a person or persons: see subsection 18(2) of the Act.

15  Entry to prescribed premises

 (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply to a person who is:

 (a) in charge of prescribed premises; or

 (b) otherwise responsible for controlling the access of persons to prescribed premises; or

 (c) a resident of prescribed premises.

Failure to arrange for entry

 (2) The person commits an offence if:

 (a) the Statistician or an authorised officer has given the person reasonable notice that an authorised officer will attempt to enter the prescribed premises at a reasonable time, or during a reasonable period, specified in the notice for the purpose of:

 (i) supplying persons with forms; or

 (ii) collecting forms that have been supplied to persons; or

 (iii) making inquiries for the purposes of the Act; and

 (b) the person does not make arrangements that would allow an authorised officer to enter the prescribed premises at the time, or during the period, specified in the notice.

Penalty: 5 penalty units.

Refusal of entry after request

 (3) The person commits an offence if:

 (a) the Statistician or an authorised officer has given the person reasonable notice that an authorised officer will attempt to enter the prescribed premises at a reasonable time, or during a reasonable period, specified in the notice for the purpose of:

 (i) supplying persons with forms; or

 (ii) collecting forms that have been supplied to persons; or

 (iii) making inquiries for the purposes of the Act; and

 (b) an authorised officer identifies himself or herself to the person as an authorised officer at the time, or during the period, specified in the notice; and

 (c) the authorised officer asks the person to allow the authorised officer to enter the prescribed premises for the purpose of:

 (i) supplying persons with forms; or

 (ii) collecting forms that have been supplied to persons; or

 (iii) making inquiries for the purposes of the Act; and

 (d) the person does not allow the authorised officer to enter the prescribed premises.

Penalty: 5 penalty units.

16  Evidentiary certificates

 (1) The Statistician may give a certificate that:

 (a) a document attached to the certificate is a true copy of a notice directing a person specified in the certificate to:

 (i) fill up and supply a form in accordance with instructions in, or accompanying, the form under subsection 10(4) of the Act; or

 (ii) answer specified questions under subsection 11(2) of the Act; and

 (b) in the case of a notice under subsection 10(4) of the Act:

 (i) a form attached to the certificate is a true copy of the form that accompanied that notice; and

 (ii) if instructions accompanied the form referred to in subparagraph (i), a document attached to the certificate is a true copy of those instructions.

 (2) The Statistician may give a certificate that a document attached to the certificate is a true copy of an undertaking of the kind referred to in paragraph 13(2)(c) of the Act by a person specified in the certificate.

 (3) In proceedings for an offence against the Act, a certificate given under this section is prima facie evidence of the facts specified in the certificate.

 (4) For the purposes of this section, a document purporting to be a certificate given under this section is taken to be such a certificate, unless the contrary is proved.

Part 5Transitional Matters

 

17  Things done under the Statistics Regulations 1983

 (1) If:

 (a) a thing was done for a particular purpose under the Statistics Regulations 1983 as in force immediately before that instrument was repealed; and

 (b) the thing could be done for that purpose under this instrument;

the thing has effect for the purposes of this instrument as if it had been done under this instrument.

 (2) Without limiting subsection (1), a reference in that subsection to a thing being done includes a reference to:

 (a) an engagement being made; and

 (b) a certificate or other instrument being given or made.

Schedule 1Undertaking of fidelity and secrecy

Note: See section 8.

  

Census and Statistics Act 1905

 

Undertaking of fidelity and secrecy

 

I, [Name] of [Address], an officer within the meaning of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, undertake that:

(a)                I will faithfully and to the best of my ability execute the powers and duties conferred on me by or under that Act; and

(b)                I will not, either directly or indirectly, divulge or communicate any information provided in pursuance of that Act to any person (other than the person from whom the information was obtained), unless the information is divulged or communicated in accordance with, or for the purposes of, that Act.

 

Dated

 

 

 

 

[Signature of officer]

 

Signed in the presence of:

 

[Signature and legible statement of name and address of witness]

Schedule 2Repeals

 

Census and Statistics (Census) Regulation 2015

1  The whole of the regulation

Repeal the regulation.

Statistics Regulations 1983

2  The whole of the Regulations

Repeal the Regulations.