Statistics Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1946L00122 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1946. No. 122.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ACT 1905–1938.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905–1938.

Dated this seventeenth day of July, 1946.

HENRY

Governor-General.

By His Royal Highness’s Command,

H. P. LAZZARINI

for Treasurer.

 

Amendments of Statistics Regulations.

Parts.

1. Regulation 2 of the Statistics Regulations is amended by inserting, after the words and figures “Part 10a.—Factories, Mines and Productive Industries.”, the words and figures “Part 10b.—The Erection, Alteration and Repair of Buildings.”.

Additional matters on which information may be given.

2. Regulation 5 of the Statistics Regulations is amended by omitting the item “13. The Erection of Buildings.” and inserting in its stead the following item:—

“13. The Erection, Alteration and Repair of Buildings.”.

3. After Part 10a of the Statistics Regulations the following Part is inserted:—

Part 10b.The Erection, Alteration and Repair of Buildings.

Information to be supplied as to erection, alteration and repair of buildings.

“21b.—(1.) The officer in charge of every Governmental, Municipal or like authority, and the person or company engaged in the erection, alteration or repair of any buildings, shall, when required so to do by the Statistician, or by a delegate to whom the necessary authority has been delegated under section five of the Act, fill up and supply to the Statistician or to the delegate, as the case may be, particulars in accordance with Form XLVII.

“(2.) Form XLVII. shall be filled up and supplied in accordance with the instructions contained in or accompanying that Form.”.

 

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 18th July, 1946.

† Statutory Rules 1927, No. 1, as amended by Statutory Rules 1928, No, 3; 1935, Nos. 22 and 126; 1936, Nos. 109 and 127; 1937, Nos. 95 and 114; and 1940, No.179.

3848.—Price 3d.


The First Schedule.

4. The First Schedule to the Statistics Regulations is amended by inserting, after Form XLVI., the following form:—

“Form XLVII. Serial No.

RETURN OF BUILDING OPERATIONS.

During Three Months Ended

Under the Commonwealth Census and Statistics Act 1905–1938 all persons to whom a copy of this form is sent are required to supply the particulars specified herein. The returns are for statistical purposes only. Information supplied in individual returns is confidential and will not be divulged to any person or to any other Government authority.

ROLAND WILSON,

Commonwealth Statistician.

INSTRUCTIONS.

1. Please answer all questions carefully and POST YOUR COMPLETED RETURN in the enclosed post-free envelope WITHIN SEVEN DAYS to the GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN in the CAPITAL CITY of your State. If no building has been done mark your form ‘Nil” and return it as above.

2. State below under each heading the NUMBER AND VALUE of jobs. (Include work done for you by a sub-contractor. Exclude all work done by you as sub-contractor for a builder. If you have been engaged on sub-contracts only, mark the form “Sub-contracts Only” and return it blank.)

Section A.

New Buildings.

Kind of Building.

Completed during period    

Under Construction at    

Jobs Accepted but not yet Begun at    

Number.

Value of Completed Buildings (exc. land).

Number.

Value of Buildings when Completed (exc. land).

Number.

Approximate Value

 

 

£

 

£

 

£

1. Houses (Count each dwelling as a separate building)—

 

 

 

 

(a) Brick, brick veneer, concrete and stone 

(b) Wood (weatherboard, &c.)

(c) Fibro-cement........

(d) Other.............

2. Flats. (See footnote)........

3. Shops, with dwelling........

4. Shops, without dwelling......

5. Hotels, Guest Houses, Boarding Houses, &c. 

6. Factories................

7. Other New buildings (state kind) 

Section B.—Alterations and Additions Completed during period

Section C.—Repairs and Maintenance Completed during the period

 

Number Completed.

Value, £

Value of Repairs and Maintenance work completed.

£

1. Conversion into Flats (see footnote)

 

 

2. Other Additions and Alterations.....

 

 

Flats.—Under “Number” state the number of individual flats provided as new dwellings. In case of “Conversions into Flats” state number of additional dwellings provided by conversion.


Section D. Persons Engaged as at

1. Include all persons working on jobs whether as working principals, employees, men working as or for sub-contractors on your contracts, and men temporarily laid off on account of weather.

(Contractors include here ALL persons working on your jobs. Sub-contractors write “Sub-contracts only.”)

Particulars.

Number Working on 

Contractors (include yourself and your partners).........

Sub-contractors (working on your jobs)...............

 

Wage-earners employed by you....................

 

Wage-earners working on your jobs for sub-contractors....

 

Total Working on Your Jobs on 1st July...........

 

2. State the number of the following tradesmen included above (count yourself, partners and sub-contractors if working on job)—

Painters Carpenters Bricklayers Electricians Plumbers Building Labourers

I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the particulars which have been inserted on this form are correct and cover all building work conducted by me during the three months ended

Signature of Builder

Postal Address

 

By Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1946 No. 122, titled Regulations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905–1938, was enacted in 1946 to enhance the collection of statistical data on building operations across Australia. This legislative instrument was introduced to address the need for more detailed and comprehensive statistics regarding building activities, including new construction, alterations, and repairs. The regulations were enacted by the Governor-General in accordance with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The policy objective is to ensure that accurate and timely statistical information is gathered to support informed decision-making in the public and private sectors, particularly in areas related to urban development and infrastructure. These regulations amend the existing Statistics Regulations to include new provisions for the collection of data on building operations. They mandate that officers in charge of governmental or municipal authorities, as well as builders and contractors, must provide detailed information on building activities to the Statistician or their delegate. This includes the number and value of new buildings, alterations, repairs, and the number of persons engaged in these activities. The data collection process is designed to be confidential and for statistical purposes only, ensuring that the information provided will not be disclosed to any other person or authority. The regulations also introduce a new form, Form XLVII, to be used for reporting these statistics.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905–1938, as amended by Statutory Rules 1946, No. 122, pertain to the collection of statistical data concerning the erection, alteration, and repair of buildings. These Regulations apply to all persons or entities engaged in building activities, including governmental, municipal, and private sector entities involved in the construction industry. The Regulations mandate that those responsible for building operations, such as builders and contractors, provide detailed information about building activities to the Statistician or their delegate. This information must be furnished in accordance with the instructions accompanying Form XLVII, which is newly introduced to capture specific details about new buildings, alterations, repairs, and the number of persons employed in these activities. The geographic scope of these Regulations is national, as they apply across the Commonwealth of Australia, with the requirement for information submission to the relevant government statistician in each state's capital city. The Regulations do not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but they do clarify that the collected information is for statistical purposes only and is confidential.

Key Provisions

The operative sections of these regulations, specifically under the Census and Statistics Act 1905–1938, establish a framework for collecting statistical data on building operations. Regulation 2 introduces a new Part 10b, which pertains to the erection, alteration, and repair of buildings (s. 3). Regulation 5 amends the list of additional matters for which information may be collected, replacing the former item on the erection of buildings with the broader topic of the erection, alteration, and repair of buildings (s. 2). Section 21b requires that particulars of building operations be filled out and supplied to the Statistician or their delegate as per Form XLVII, which includes detailed instructions on what information to provide and how to submit it (s. 21b). These regulations impose specific obligations on governmental and municipal authorities, as well as individuals and companies engaged in building activities. They are mandated to provide detailed information on new buildings, alterations, repairs, and the number of persons employed in these activities over a specified period (s. 21b). This data must be submitted in accordance with Form XLVII, which is provided with detailed instructions on how to complete it. The information collected is intended for statistical purposes only and is to be kept confidential (s. 21b). Failure to comply with these regulations may lead to legal consequences. Although the regulations do not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, non-compliance with the Census and Statistics Act 1905–1938 generally may attract penalties. The Act itself outlines various offences, including the unauthorised use of collected data and the provision of false or misleading information, which can result in fines. For instance, section 24 of the Act imposes a penalty of up to five years imprisonment for providing false information. Additionally, section 26 allows for the imposition of fines up to 500 pounds for contraventions of the Act, highlighting the seriousness with which non-compliance is regarded.

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