Overview
- The census must be completed for everyone in Australia on census night, Tuesday August 11, and most households are expected to use an online 66‑question form with paper options and field staff for those who need them.
- By law the ABS separates names and addresses from other data, will not share identifiable information with police or immigration, and can fine non‑compliers up to A$364 per day or up to A$3,640 for knowingly false answers.
- For the first time the questionnaire includes questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, expands ancestry reporting and updates parent terminology to reflect contemporary households.
- Federal ministers and the ABS have stressed upgraded cyber defences and urged early completion to reduce server load while telcos and consumer groups are warning Australians to ignore fake messages and not to give bank details or grant remote access.
- Images of a small number of people destroying census materials have circulated online but remain limited and unverified, and the ABS will begin staged, anonymised data releases from June 2027 with more detailed datasets later.