2902.0 - Census Update (Newsletter), Mar 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/03/2000   
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Your views are being considered!

Since early 1999, the ABS' Census Program has undertaken a large and intensive consultation with its clients in preparation for the next census in August 2001. During this time, reactions to the 1996 Census Output Program have been sought, as well as people's views on proposed strategies and directions for the 2001 Census Output Program.

Conducted over three phases, the second phase of this consultation has recently been completed. This phase involved the release of an Information Paper: 2001 Census of Population and Housing: ABS Views on Census Output Strategy (ABS Cat. No. 2009.0) and an accompanying questionnaire. Both were distributed to all Census Update readers in early October 1999 with the questionnaire also available electronically via the ABS web site for the first time.

Selected clients were also involved in more detailed consultations, conducted around Australia by census staff during October 1999.

Preliminary findings

Although more detailed findings will be available to census clients shortly, some of the preliminary issues emerging from this stage of research are noted below. All issues raised in the consultation and survey are being considered in the planning of 2001 Census products and services.

  • There appears to be continued client support for CDATA with full Geographic Information System, as well as a CDATA product with reduced/simplified functionality. Support was also received for a 'data only' CD-ROM for those who do not need the CDATA functionality. (See the article on page x for more detail of the initial thoughts for CDATA2001.)
  • Clients strongly support all aspects of the proposed Internet strategy, especially being able to access more data via this medium.

  • Clients were in favour of using the ABS web site, e-mail and CD-ROM as the main methods of delivering products and services from the 2001 Census.
  • Timing and pricing continue to be seen as important issues by clients.


The ABS would like to thank all those who recently participated in both exercises. Your comments and suggestions have been invaluable, and will enable the ABS to better meet your needs in the future.

Where to from here?

Based on the results of the questionnaire and consultations, the ABS is now developing specific proposals for the 2001 Census Output Program, including the development of prototypes for 2001 Census products and services. These prototypes will be circulated for comment to all Census Update readers in July 2000.

The consultative process will be much the same as that used for the recent ABS Views on Census Output Strategy consultation. In July we will release an Information Paper: 2001 Census of Population and Housing: Proposed Products and Services (ABS Cat. No. 2011.0) and supplement containing information about the classifications to be used for the 2001 Census and content of the proposed publications. A questionnaire will be sent, along with the paper and supplement, to all Census Update readers, seeking users' views on the planned products and services. This will be followed by a round of face to face consultations with selected census clients in capital cities.

The questionnaire will also be available on-line from the ABS web site.

So watch your mailbox and plan to give us your thoughts.

Other 2001 Census news

For the first time, the 2001 Census will include a question on the use of personal computers and a question on the use of the Internet. Commonwealth and State government bodies plan to use this information, at small geographic area level and for small population groups, in order to target a range of policies and programs. The responses to these questions can be cross-classified with demographic data (such as age, sex, locality, qualifications and employment details) to provide information to both public and private sector agencies on the use of these technological innovations by various segments of the population.