Preparing for Low Response Events in the Australian 2026 Census

Ian Rayson, Australian Bureau Of Statistics (Abs)
Ross Watmuff, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Each Census has a risk of an area of low response – Stats NZ 2023 Census felt the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle and Stats Canada 2016 Census had disruptions from a bushfire in the town of Fort McMurray. While Australia has remained largely immune, it is important to be prepared to fill gaps in population data when low response events happen. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) existing method to fill in gaps in Census data is good when Census participation is high, however is less robust in low response scenarios. The ABS is exploring a new method in the 2026 Census. This method would use PLIDA data directly to fill in gaps in data where households did not return a Census form. There are several benefits from this ADS approach: - These records will more accurately reflect people missed in the Census, with data sourced directly from administrative records. - It has the potential to fill in more data across a greater range of characteristics about people missed in the Census, including potentially reducing the undercount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons. - It is a stepping stone for potential greater use of administrative data in future Censuses.

Keywords: Census data, Linked data sets , Data and Methods, The Demography of Indigenous Populations

See extended abstract.