The Australian Federal government has recently announced the commencement of a Parliamentary Inquiry which will examine the possibility of retaining Census information for posterity!
This follows strong lobbying for more than 2 years by the Save the Census for History's Sake campaign, which culminated with the Federal Member for Cook, Mr Stephen Mutch (Lib MP) moving a private members business motion last October calling on the government to establish a public inquiry within 12 months of the 1996 Census.
Retention of Australian Census information is supported by family historians and other researchers, including medical geneticists and demographers. The fact that other countries, such as the UK and the USA, preserve census forms with long-term embargoes on their public release may have assisted the Australian government to reconsider its long-held practice of destroying the original forms.
However, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the body which conducts the Census, holds the view that by promising to destroy the original forms people are more likely to provide honest answers to census questions.
The forthcoming Inquiry is being conducted by the House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee which is now calling for submissions. Anyone wishing to participate should contact:
House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Legal and
Constitutional Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Tel: (+61 6) 277 2358
Fax: (+61) 277 4778
http://www.reps.aph.gov.au/committees/laca/laca.htm
Michele's ancestors came to Australia from England and France. She is happily divorced and has 4 adult children (1 son, twin sons and 1 daughter) and has 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons - so far!