Census night on August 9 and we’ been receiving some queries from our audiences.
1) Some of our audiences said they can fill in their census before 9 August, is that right?
Once you receive your Census instruction letter in the mail, with your 12 digit code, you are able to complete your Census online - even if this is before 9 August. However we do encourage everyone to fill it in on Tuesday 9 August.
2) Some audiences want to know if they can’t get online on 9 August, can they do that afterwards? Will they be penalised with $180 a day? When is the deadline to fill in the census online?
You will not receive a fine for submitting a late Census form, but you should still make sure to submit it as soon as possible. We will send you a reminder letter after Census night if we don’t receive a Census form for your household.
A Field Officer will only visit you if you still have not submitted your form.
3) If on 9 August the internet crash with too many people going online to fill in the census, what should they do?
It is expected that more than 65 per cent of all households, some 16 million people, will complete the Census online. However, there is plenty of reserve capacity to cope if more than 80 per cent of Australians choose to complete the Census online, that's approximately 200 submissions per second.
4) What is the deadline in returning paper form to ABS?
If you would prefer a paper form you can order one using the Paper Form Request Service on 1300 820 275 using your online Census login. It is open 24 hours and you just need your 12-digit Census login, which you can find in the middle of your Census letter. The request service will stay open after Census night on Tuesday 9 August. If you receive a reminder letter in the post or receive a visit from a field officer you will still have time to call the Census paper request service to request a form, fill it in and return it in the provided reply paid envelope.
5) Our audience complained that the number for getting paper census form is always engaged and can’t get through, any other hotline to get the census in paper form?
We have experienced a large number of calls to the Census Inquiry Service, resulting in waiting time or people not getting through. We apologise for any inconvenience and ask that you try again later.
