Statistics Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules of 1958 No. 20, made under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905-1949, represent a legislative instrument aimed at updating the scope and nature of statistical data collection in Australia. This regulation was enacted by the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The principal objective of these regulations is to revise the prescribed matters for the purposes of section 16 of the Act, specifically to enhance the breadth and depth of statistical information gathered. By amending Regulation 5, the regulation broadens the scope of data to include critical areas such as investment, overseas transactions, financial operations, personal income, expenditure, savings, entertainments, and various services, thereby addressing gaps in the previously collected data and ensuring more comprehensive statistical coverage.

Scope and Application

The Census and Statistics Regulations, made under the Census and Statistics Act 1905-1949, are applicable to a wide range of entities and persons within the Commonwealth of Australia. These regulations mandate the collection and provision of statistical data on a variety of prescribed matters, such as sickness, diseases, and injuries, as well as investment, overseas transactions, financial operations, personal income, expenditure, savings, entertainments, and various services. The scope of the regulation extends to both corporate and non-corporate bodies and individuals, ensuring comprehensive data collection across different sectors of the economy. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, covering all states and territories within Australia. The regulations also provide for amendments to existing rules to ensure the relevance and accuracy of the collected data over time. The collection and reporting of this data are essential for the formulation of policies and the economic planning processes at both the federal and state levels.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this legislative instrument are found in Regulation 5 of the Statistics Regulations, which has been amended to specify the prescribed matters for the purposes of section 16 of the Census and Statistics Act 1905-1949. Specifically, Regulation 5(1) now includes sickness, diseases, and injuries as prescribed matters, while other paragraphs have been revised to include investment, overseas transactions, assets, liabilities, financial operations and transactions of bodies or groups, personal income, expenditure, savings, entertainments and amusements, and various types of services. These amendments expand the scope of data collection under the Act. The obligations and requirements imposed by this legislation on the parties it governs include the obligation to provide accurate and complete information as prescribed in the amended Regulation 5. This means that entities and individuals must disclose data on the specified matters when required to do so under the Act. The information must be accurate, as it will be used for statistical purposes and potentially for policy-making and research. The obligation extends to ensuring that all relevant data is collected and reported within the timeframes stipulated by the Act. Breaches of this legislation can lead to both civil and criminal consequences. Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905-1949, failure to comply with the requirements to provide information can be an offence. The penalties for such offences may include fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment. The exact penalties are not specified within the legislative instrument itself but would be detailed in the principal Act or other relevant legislation. It is important for entities and individuals to comply fully with their obligations to avoid these potential consequences.