One in five (21%) ACT households are yet to complete their Census and may be subject to fines if they ignore the overdue notices being sent out this week.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates it has received 7,734,307 completed forms for the 2021 Census, as at 8am Monday.
A total of 6,952,502 online forms were submitted, and 781,805 paper forms were mailed directly to the ABS. While this is a pleasing outcome, households that have not yet completed their Census will not be ignored, the ABS states.
“This week, overdue reminder letters will be sent to households that haven’t yet completed, and field staff will start following up where it is safe to do so under local COVID restrictions,” said Andrew Henderson, census executive director and national spokesperson.
“We’d like to thank the seven million households that have already completed their Census. For those households that haven’t completed yet, it’s not too late.”
Mr Henderson reminded all Australian households that the Census is compulsory. You can receive a Notice of Direction upon failing to submit, and if you don’t complete the Census, you can be prosecuted and fined up to $222 a day.
If you haven’t received your instruction letter, you can still complete the Census online by selecting the ‘Get a Census Number’ option or requesting a paper form either online or by calling 1800 512 441. Help and support for those who require assistance is also available.
‘’If you’ve already ordered a paper form, it is on its way to you,” Mr Henderson said.
The ABS published the ranking of each jurisdiction’s participation (subject to change), showing the ACT in the lead with 79% of households having completed the 2021 Census. Victoria followed with 73%, and the Northern Territory ranked last at 56%. In total, approximately 69% of Australian household have completed this year’s Census.
