东南网澳大利亚站综合报道 本站记者 石月
2016澳大利亚人口普查(Census of Population and Housing, 简称Census)将以8月9日夜为时间点对在澳人员及其信息进行统计。所有身处澳洲境内的人均必须通过网上填表或邮寄表单的方式参与，否则将面临最高$1,800澳元的罚款。
履行义务 全民参与
五年一次的Census是由澳大利亚数据统计局(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 简称ABS) 依照《1905年人口普查与统计法》（Census and Statistics Act 1905）进行的，是所有在澳居民需履行的法律义务。
1905人口统计法
除外国使节和他们的家人外，每个身处澳洲境内的人，包括留学生，临时工作签证持有者和外国游客等，均需要于8月9日人口普查夜（Census Night）当晚所在地配合完成本次统计，当晚身处澳洲境外的人，则无需参加。
“Census是每个在澳居民必须履行的义务，得到了绝大部分澳大利亚人的支持和配合。一般来讲，对拒绝参与者采取罚款手段让其配合的情况很少。但根据1905年人口普查与统计法，会对拒绝参加或者提供不实信息者予以相应处罚。” 高瑞律师事务所的律师邹佳虹说。
据悉，ABS首先会对在一定日期内未完成人口普查的居民予以通知，明确Census是公民的法律义务。此后，若该居民继续拒绝参与，他们将面临每日最高$180的罚款，罚款上限为$1800。在一些案例中，对拒绝填写和上交表单居民的处罚也包含刑事处罚，而故意填写错误或带有误导性的信息也同样是犯罪。
2016年的新变化
2016年的Census,参与者只能通过网上填写或邮寄表格两种方式参与，不再有工作人员上门收发表格。
2011年前，工作人员会上门收发表格 资料图
据ABS预测，约70%的人将会选择在网上完成。自8月1日起，每户家庭都将陆续收到来自ABS的信件，信中附有每家专属的Census登陆码，网上填表指南，以及纸质表格申请指南。参与者可使用登陆码登录网站census.abs.gov.au，在线填写表格完成普查。而对于不方便使用网络，或者仍希望使用纸质表格的参与者，则需向工作人员提供其专属登录码申请纸质表格。填写完毕后必须尽快寄回，避免延误。
两种方式完成Census 资料图
调查表上关于宗教信仰和性别问题也有了改动。新添加了“无宗教信仰”的选项，而在性别问题中，首次加入了除男性和女性外的第三个选项。
来自悉尼大学的人类学专家Luis Angosto-Ferrandez博士对此表示，“每一个人都能够站出来并且被计算在人口普查内是非常重要的。”
对隐私安全的担忧
尽管人口普查需要全民配合参与，但也有一部分居民对其提交的个人隐私数据的安全问题表示担忧。部分居民认为他们的姓名和地址不应该出现在调查问题中。有澳洲记者曾在报道中表示，使个人隐私数据最安全的方法就是不收集信息，或者在收集后删除数据。
资料图
对此ABS表示，他们将把信息安全作为最优先的考虑。在完成数据的收集整理后，各家庭的姓名和地址信息将会被分开储存，且存储时间不超过四年。
“虽然有个人信息安全的担忧，但是我决定相信政府能够保护好这些数据的安全。我希望政府能够妥善使用这些信息，并且及时销毁。”来自悉尼Eastwood区的一位居民在接受采访时说。
据悉，绝大多数澳大利亚人对于人口普查都给予了巨大支持，表现出了很强的参与意愿。澳大利亚人口普查始于1911年，其所得数据为描绘澳大利亚历史和规划未来发展起到了非常重要的作用。这些数据被用于预估澳大利亚人口的增长，从而使政府能够更好的分配资源，规划社区服务，特别是关于住房、交通、教育、工业、医疗、环境等方面。同时，个人或各类组织也均可依据Census数据来制定决策，或预防一些问题的产生。
2016’s Census calls for everyone
Australian largest collection of statistical information Census（Census of Population and Housing） will occur on August 9. Undertaken by Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census is calling for everyone in Australia to take part in.
Legal obligation of everyone in Australia
Under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905, the Census is compulsory for everyone in Australia, except foreign ambassadors and their families.
“Census is compulsory, it has been supported by most Australian, the need to enforce penalties for non-completion is rare. However, based on the Census and Statistics Act 1905, people who fail to complete Census would face to penalties.” Grace Zou, lawyer from GEA Lawyers said.
According to Census and Statistics Act 1905, ABS would firstly notify non-completion over their obligation to complete Census. If they continuously refuse to complete, they may face a fine of up to $180 per day until the form is finished and returned, but the penalty would be no more than $1800. Providing false or misleading statements or information is also an offence.
What's New in 2016’s Census
There won’t be any house hold doorknockers to deliver and collect the form during 2016’s Census, where people are able to complete form online or by post instead. ABS predict that 70% of the participants would complete Census online.
Most of the Census’s questions are remained, however two questions have changed this year. In the question” What is your religion”, “no religion “became optional. Besides, the 2016’s Census firstly recognizes those who don’t identify as male or female.
Dr. Luis Angosto-Ferrandez, an Anthropology expert form University of Sydney, believes that it is significant for everyone to stand up and be counted.
Safety Concerns of privacy information
Collecting essential residential information will of course arouse privacy and safety concerns. A number of Australians believe that it is unnecessary to show their name and address on the Census form. ABC journalist Chris Berg wrote in his article that the safest way to protect data is to not collect it at all, the second safest way is to destroy that data after collection.
In respond to the concerns, ABS announced they will have legal obligations to keep Census data secure and ensure that it does not disclose identifiable information about persons, household or business, and personal name identified information would be destroyed after 4 years or shorter since it has been collected.
“I also have privacy and safety concerns about the Census data, however it is undertaken by the governments, I have the faith to trust ABS could keep them safe. I hope ABS could use the data properly and destroy the data on time”, said a residence in Eastwood.
Since the first Census 1911, most Australians have given their overwhelming support and willing to the Census. It provides a snapshot of Australia, helping shape the nation’s education, health, transport and infrastructure.
