Bills Digest no. 86 1976-77
Census and Statistics Amendment Bill 1977
WARNING:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced
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CONTENTS
Passage History
Purpose
Background
Summary
Contact Officer & Copyright Details
Passage History
Census
and Statistics Amendment Bill 1977
Date introduced: 23 February 1977
House: House of Representatives
Purpose
The purpose of the Bill is to provide for
a census every five years and for the compilation of quarterly population
figures.
Background
The Representation Act 1905 as amended
by the Representation Amendment Bill 1977 requires the number
of seats in the House of Representatives for each State to be determined
in the twelfth month of a Parliament using “the latest statistics of
the Commonwealth” about the numbers of people in the States.
The amendments made by this Bill ensure
that with a full census every five years, and State population figures
every quarter, there will always be up-to-date figures available for
this purpose.
Summary
The Bill amends the Census and Statistics
Act 1905.
Clause 3 updates the references to the Statistician
who is now appointed under the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act
1975.
Clause 4 repeals section 4 which used to
provide for the appointment of the Statistician but which has not operated
since the passage of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act
1975.
Clause 5 amends section 8 to provide for
a census every five years; a census may also be held at other times,
if prescribed. The next census is to be held in 1981. The existing section
8 provides for a census every 10 years and at such other times as are
prescribed.
Clause 7 amends section 20 which presently
requires the compilation and tabulation of the statistics collected
pursuant to the Act (these are listed in section 16), and, if the Minister
directs, their publication in full, or as abstracts, with comments thereon.
The Statistician will now also be obliged to compile and tabulate quarterly
population figures for the States and to publish them if directed.
Clause 6 amends section 16 so that any statistics
(such as births, deaths, inter-State migrations and so on) necessary
for the compilation of quarterly population figures must be collected.
Clause 9 does not amend the Act but limits
the requirement to compile the quarterly population figures to quarter
days after the new requirements come into operation.
Clause 8 amends the Australian Bureau
of Statistics Act 1975 to make it clear that an acting Statistician
is required to carry out the duties of the Statistician (such as compiling
quarterly population figures) as well as exercising his powers and functions.
Law and Government Group
23 February 1977
Bills Digest Service
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ISSN 1328-8091
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