Overview
- The Australian Bureau of Statistics has sent instruction letters and says more than a million households have already completed the online form ahead of the Tuesday 11 August census night.
- Completing the census is legally required and failure to comply can attract fines of up to A$364 per day while knowingly providing false information can lead to fines up to A$3,640.
- The ABS has recruited thousands of field officers to deliver and collect forms, with media reports varying between more than 16,000 and about 30,000 hires for on‑the‑ground work.
- The 2026 questionnaire adds two optional questions on gender and sexual orientation for people aged 16 and over and changes wording such as asking for 'sex recorded at birth'.
- The ABS is running a targeted homelessness enumeration with short one‑page forms and pop‑up support hubs, but service providers warn couch surfers and people in cars or tents may still be missed while Home Affairs and the National Anti‑Scam Centre warn the public to verify door‑knockers and use official ABS channels; names are stored up to 18 months and addresses up to 36 months according to ABS privacy rules.