2007.0.55.001 - Census of Population and Housing: Submissions Report, 2016  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/09/2013  First Issue
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2.0 OVERVIEW OF SUBMISSIONS

2.1 A total of 915 submissions were received during the consultation period. This includes 45 submissions received in the lead up to the 2011 Census, but were later deferred due to the decision to conduct the 2011 Census with minimal change because of financial constraints. Submissions were received from a range of organisations, including government departments across all levels of government, private sector organisations, individuals, community groups and not-for-profit organisations, academics/researchers and others (mainly interest/lobby groups), see Figure 1.

Figure 1: Number of submissions on the 2016 Census topics by submitter type


(a) As reported by submitter.
(b) Community organisation/not for profit group.
(c) Includes lobby and interest groups, advisory groups and associations.


2.2 Submissions were received on 43 of the 49 topics described in the information paper: Census of Population and Housing: Consultation on Content and Procedures, 2016 (cat. no. 2007.0). Table 1 lists the number of submissions. They are listed under four broad groupings based on the initial ABS proposals outlined in the information paper, released in November 2012. The groups are: recommended for retention, to be reviewed, recommended for exclusion, and potential new topics.

Table 1: Number of submissions by topic

TopicSubmissions about 2016 Census contentSubmissions about 2011 Census content2016 and 2011 submissions combined
Recommended for Retention in the November 2012 Consultation information paper
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin
5
5
Address on Census night
Age
1
1
Attendance at an educational institution
2
1
3
Country of birth
1
1
Family relationship/Social marital status
7
5
12
Highest year of schooling
1
2
3
Hours worked
6
6
Housing costs
2
2
Income
4
1
5
Industry of employment
18
18
Internal migration
3
3
Labour force status
3
3
Landlord type
Location of private dwelling
Main language other than English spoken at home
4
4
Mode of travel to work
8
8
Name
Non-school qualifications
4
4
Number of bedrooms
Occupation
25
25
Proficiency in spoken English
1
1
Registered marital status
3
3
Religious affiliation
438
6
444
Residential status in a non-private dwelling
Sex
12
1
13
Structure of private dwelling
1
1
Tenure type
1
1
Type of non-private dwelling
1
1
2
Usual residence at Census time
5
5
Workplace address/Journey to work
2
2
Year of arrival in Australia
Recommended for Review in the November 2012 Consultation information paper
Ancestry
28
1
29
Australian citizenship
12
12
Country of birth of parents
20
20
Government/Non-Government employer
10
10
Internet access
16
2
18
Need for assistance
21
1
22
Status in employment
9
9
Unpaid work
22
2
24
Recommended for Exclusion in the November 2012 Consultation information paper
Community Development Employment program
4
4
Employment type
4
4
Number of children ever born
10
1
11
Number of motor vehicles garaged
9
1
10
Potential New Topics Recommended in the November 2012 Consultation information paper
Educational institution address/Journey to education
21
21
Long-term health conditions
28
28
Mode of travel to educational institution
9
9
Second residence/Ownership of other dwelling
26
3
29
Sources of income
9
1
10
Other topics(a)
41
8
49
Other submissions(b)
15
6
21
Total submissions
870
45
915
(a)Submissions in this category proposed a range of potential new topics for consideration, see paragraphs 6.15 - 6.16 for more details.
(b)Submissions in this category provided comments on a range of Census procedures, see paragraphs 6.17 - 6.20 for more details.
2.3 Table 2 lists the top five topics by number of submissions. The submissions for the top five topics accounted for approximately 61% of the total submissions. This was mainly driven by submissions received on Religious affiliation, which accounted for approximately 49% of all submissions.

Table 2: Top five(a) topics by number of submissions

Topic2016 and 2011 submissions combined
Religious affiliation
444
Ancestry
29
Second residence/Ownership of other dwelling
29
Long-term health conditions
28
Occupation
25
Total of top five submissions received
555
Total submissions received
915
(a)The top five topics do not consider the 'other topics' and 'other submissions' category because they combine a range of topics, see paragraphs 6.15 - 6.20.