'Straight up demanded access': Census rule you may not be aware of

Strata and building managers are being contacted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) ahead of the 2026 Census to help facilitate access to secure apartment buildings.

As president of the Strata Community Association of Australasia, Joshua Baldwin has been informing building managers about the Census process.

He said while Census data collected by the ABS provides important insights into the nation's population and housing, coordinating access to secure-building apartments can become a "logistical nightmare".

Around 30,000 field staff have been hired by the ABS to ensure everyone in Australia is counted on 11 August. This involves delivering Census materials before Census night and following up with households that have not completed their Census after 11 August.

"We get a lot of questions as to why ... they need access onto our property and who is going to be [there]," Baldwin told SBS News.

Accessing secure apartments

SBS News has seen correspondence between ABS staff and a Melbourne-based strata management firm.

The email outlines access arrangements for secure apartment buildings during Census activities, including requests for entry to prescribed premises between 8am and 8pm on weekdays and from 9am to 8pm on weekends. The ABS expects Census-related visits will conclude by the end of September.

In circumstances where Census staff cannot meet with onsite management to access buildings, the ABS may request temporary access arrangements, including apartment keys, fob cards or passcodes for secure areas.

Baldwin said he had heard of instances where "some Census officers have ... just straight up demanded access" to keys.

"Unfortunately, you know, we can't provide that access without the permission of the strata corporation," he said.

He acknowledged these interactions were rare and said, in most cases, facilitating building access was "quite fluid and quite easy".

To avoid handing over keys directly, Baldwin said some strata managers have established temporary box systems outside buildings, allowing authorised access while maintaining security arrangements.

Why does the ABS need building access for the Census?

For more than a century, the ABS has conducted the Census to provide a snapshot of Australia. The data collected helps inform understanding of the nation's population, housing and communities.

This includes information about Australian residents, international visitors and people on temporary visas.

In a statement to SBS News, an ABS spokesperson said most residents in secure apartment buildings can expect to receive Census instructions by mail. Generally, one person completes the Census online on behalf of their household, although individual and paper forms can be requested.

The spokesperson said: "Census staff may need building access to deliver materials prior to the Census in some areas of Australia.

"After the Census, staff will need to follow up with households that have not completed their Census ... access arrangements help Census staff undertake these activities efficiently and with minimal disruption to residents."

The ABS spokesperson also said all access keys are managed under strict protocols and returned at the end of Census activities.

Supporting Census participation

Baldwin said some strata managers have worked with the ABS to establish arrangements that help Census staff access buildings while minimising disruptions for residents.

He said in some cases, the ABS and building staff have identified premises where residents may need additional support, including communities where English is not a first language.

Arrangements have been made for field officers to visit these buildings on 11 August to assist residents with Census participation.

"It is almost a two-way street ... there was a nomination process where managing agents nominated buildings that could have ... needed this support," Baldwin said.

What the law says about Census access

Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, authorised officers have the power to enter prescribed premises for the purpose of collecting statistical information for the Census.

The Census and Statistics Regulation 2016 also outlines the types of premises that Census staff may enter.

Census staff are authorised to access common areas of secure apartment buildings, but cannot enter private individual residences within those buildings without permission.

In a letter seen by SBS News and signed by the director of Census field operations, David Stewart, the ABS said all Census staff undergo police checks and carry ABS identification cards for verification.

"Strict protocols are in place for the handling and storage of keys when not in use," the letter said.

An ABS spokesperson said Census staff are legally authorised to enter secure apartment buildings to undertake Census activities.

"If a person responsible for controlling access refuses entry or fails to arrange entry following an ABS request or direction, they may face prosecution and fines."

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