Census and Statistics Regulations

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1908, No. 95, is a legislative instrument made under the Census and Statistics Act 1905. This regulation was introduced to address the need for comprehensive and detailed statistical data beyond the initial scope outlined in the original Act. Enacted by the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, the regulation mandates the collection of additional statistical information pertinent to various sectors, including local government, water supply, taxation, organisations of employers and employees, defence and police, public health, quarantine, education, the fishing industry, and sericultural and pomological industries. This extension of statistical data collection aims to support informed policy-making and resource allocation by providing a more holistic view of societal and economic conditions in Australia.

Scope and Application

This legislative instrument, Statutory Rules 1908 No. 95, made under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, expands the scope of the types of statistics that the Statistician is required to collect annually. The Act applies to the Statistician who is mandated to collect data on a range of specified matters beyond those already outlined in section 16 of the principal Act. These additional matters include local government, water supply, taxation of land and income, organisations of employers and employees, naval, military and police, public health and quarantine, education, the fishing industry, and sericultural and pomological industries. The geographic reach of this regulation is national, as it applies across the Commonwealth of Australia. There are no exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds specified in the Regulation itself, although the collection of data may be subject to the limitations and requirements outlined in the Census and Statistics Act 1905. The regulation does not explicitly extend or restrict the application of the principal Act through subordinate instruments, but it does provide further detail on the types of statistics to be collected, thereby enhancing the legislative framework within which the Statistician operates.

Key Provisions

The primary sections of this statutory regulation (sections 1 and 2) establish the framework for additional data collection under the Census and Statistics Act 1905. Specifically, section 1 mandates the collection of annual statistics beyond the scope outlined in section 16 of the Act. Section 2 enumerates the specific additional matters for which statistics must be gathered, including local government, water supply, taxation of land and income, organisations of employers and employees, naval and military forces, police, public health and quarantine, education, the fishing industry, and sericultural and pomological industries. These sections ensure that a broader range of socio-economic and demographic data is systematically collected to inform policy and decision-making. The obligations imposed by this regulation on the Statistician, as per section 1, are to collect the specified statistics annually and subject to the limitations outlined in the Census and Statistics Act 1905. This requirement is a continuation of the existing duties under the Act, ensuring that the Statistician's role is expanded to include the collection of detailed and varied data. The Statistician must ensure that these statistics are gathered comprehensively and accurately, reflecting the current state of the enumerated matters across Australia. Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this regulation could lead to significant consequences. While the regulation itself does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil and criminal consequences for breaches, the broader Census and Statistics Act 1905 does provide a framework. Under the Act, non-compliance with census or statistics requirements can result in penalties, including fines and potential criminal charges. The maximum penalties can vary depending on the nature and severity of the breach, but they are designed to enforce the importance of accurate and timely data collection for national statistics.