Western communities struggle to be counted in census
Story: Kristin Murdockkmurdock@outbackradio.com.au
Problems delivering forms, a shortage of field staff and an emphasis on completing the Census online have been blamed for poor participation in parts of western NSW, with concerns an inaccurate count could affect funding for vital regional services.
Bourke Shire Council General Manager, Leonie Brown, has described the initial rollout of the 2026 Census in Bourke as deeply flawed, saying Council was advised at one stage that only about 30 per cent of the community had completed the census.
While the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has continued collecting Census forms beyond August, Mrs Brown said the early problems in Bourke highlighted the difficulties of conducting a predominantly digital Census in a remote community.
“It was very ordinary. Census papers were not provided to residents on time,” she said.
“There was nowhere for members of the community to seek support on Census Night. Those residents that had not received paper forms had to complete the Census online, and for those residents that did not have a computer or were not comfortable completing the Census online, they were initially not part of the count in Bourke.”[…]
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