Australia's compulsory census night is tonight, August 11, with penalties for non-compliance

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is carrying out its quinquennial Census of Population and Housing on Tuesday, August 11, and every individual in the country that night must be recorded. Participation is compulsory for citizens, visa holders, international students and other residents, though foreign diplomats are exempt; those absent from their usual dwelling can submit a personal form or complete the census online.

Respondents receive a letter with a census number and temporary password, but can also obtain a one-time PIN via mobile if needed, and paper forms are available on request, with an extra copy taking up to ten days to arrive. The ABS assures that all information is protected by law, encrypted, and inaccessible to other government agencies such as the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Taxation Office or Centrelink.

While early submissions are encouraged—over 1.2 million have already been sent—failure to comply may result in fines of up to $364 per day, and providing false data can attract penalties up to $3,640. The census data will inform decisions on health, transport, education and infrastructure across Australia.