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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978
CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL 1978
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A BILL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ORDERING OF STATISTICAL SURVEYS WHERE IT IS DESIRED TO MAKE THEM STATUTORY AND COMPULSORY. WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL 1978, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID THE BILL DIFFERS FROM THE PRESENT STATISTICAL LEGISLATION - THE CENSUS ORDINANCE -- LARGELY IN SMALL POINTS OF DETAIL DESIGNED TO MAKE THE LAW CLEARER AND TO ALLOW MORE READILY FOR SURVEYS OTHER THAN POPULATION CENSUSES.
HE SAID: +WHILE THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THE PRESENT ORDINANCE ARE BASED ARE RIGHT AND APPLICABLE TO ANY AREA OF COMPULSORY STATISTICAL ENQUIRY, ITS DETAILED PROVISIONS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY GEARED TO THE EXPANDING WORK PROGRAMME THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS UNDERTAKING.
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+THIS PROGRAMME GOES WELL BEYOND CENSUSES OF POPULATION, IT NOW ALSO INCLUDES, AS EXAMPLES SURVEYS OF VARIOUS
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SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DESIGNED TO LEAD TO A BASIC DESCRIPTION OF EACH SECTOR AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY'S OUTPUT SURVEYS DESIGNED TO OBTAIN LABOUR STATISTICS, FOR EXAMPLE ON EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND UNDER-EMPLOYMENT, WAGES AND EARNINGS.+
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE BILL INCLUDE:
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A DEFINITION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS THEREBY DEFINING THE SCOPE OF THE STATISTICAL SURVEYS THAT MAY BE ORDERED UNDER THE BILL-
PROVISION FOR +SAMPLING+ 1.E. TO DERIVE INFORMATION RELATING TO A WHOLE FIELD OF INQUIRY FROM THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM PART OF IT-
PROVISION FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS TO DRAW UP AS ONE SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ALL THE DRAFT ORDERS NECESSARY FOR THE SURVEYS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR-
PROVISION TO EMPOWER CENSUS OFFICERS TO ENTER PREMISES FOR CERTAIN SPECIFIED PURPOSES=
PROVISION TO ALLOW FOR THE PUBLICATION OF NAMES, ADDRESSES, TYPE OF BUSINESS AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DERIVED FROM SURVEYS WITH THE PURPOSE OF PERMITTING THE PUBLISHING OF DIRECTORIES, AND-
PROVISION EXPRESSLY RELIEVING THE COMMISSIONER OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS FROM HAVING TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION DERIVING FROM SURVEYS FOR THE USE OF OTHER AUTHORITIES IN
INVESTIGATING CRIME OR LEVYING TAXES.
COMMENTING ON THE LAST AMENDMENT, MR. JEAFRESSON SAID: +MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL FIRMS AND PERSONS IS VITAL TO PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN CENSUSES AND SURVEYS.
/+THE COMMISSIONER