The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has decided to retain names and addresses collected in the 2016 Census of Population and Housing in order to enable a richer and dynamic statistical picture of Australia through the combination of Census data with other survey and administrative data.
This decision was informed by public submissions, public testing, consultation with State, Territory and Commonwealth Privacy Commissioners and the conduct of a Privacy Impact Assessment.
The full Privacy Impact Assessment on the retention of names and addresses from responses to the 2016 Census of Population and Housing is attached below. The decision to retain names and addresses is reflected in the document Retention of names and addresses collected in the 2016 Census of Population and Housing and can be found on the About Us - Corporate Documents page. The Media Release announcing the decision can be found on the News & Media page of the ABS website.
The ABS has also published its original Statement of Intent to conduct the Privacy Impact Assessment on the About Us - Corporate Documents page of the ABS website.