… for urgent advice on the law from Liberal Government
JLN Independent Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asking him and his Attorney-General to provide in writing, answers to 4 vital questions regarding this year’s Census.
“I’ll delay submitting this year’s Census forms until I receive written answers and important clarification from the Prime Minister and his Attorney-General to some vital questions. I hope that they are able to reply to my questions by C.O.B. today.
I want to make sure that I’ve filled in the forms correctly and lawfully. I also want to make sure that my staff are giving accurate advice to the many people who have contacted my office regarding this year’s Census.” said Senator Lambie.
“This year’s Census has been badly managed and bungled. Government dysfunction, departmental bungling, exceptional rule changes and poor community consultation – has created an unprecedented crisis in public confidence and many serious concerns about this year’s Census.
However, one of my main concerns that can be cleared up very quickly by the Prime Minister today relates to exemptions for people who hold officially Protected Identities.
To-date the Government has refused to answer these 4 simple questions I want answers to:
1. Are there exceptions to the laws governing the Census?
2. If so, who do these exceptions apply to?
3. Do Australians who have Protected Identity Status qualify for an exception?
4. Are public servants and politicians who are the subject of unresolved death threats, considered exempt from the laws governing the Census?
I need, very quickly – clear, simple answers to these 4 questions from this Government so that I can act in a lawful, safe manner and give good advice to my staff and the people who have contacted my office. ” said Senator Lambie.
“In addition to putting these questions to the Prime Minister, I also wrote today saying: I note that people who are worried about their personal security and safety are able to become a silent voter (i.e. their name is kept off the electoral roll) and obtain a silent phone number where their name does not appear in the phone book. I would expect the Census to have similar provisions.
I also note that RSL advocates have formally asked similar questions to mine, in a submission regarding former employees of State and Federal Governments who have Protected Identity Status – and to my knowledge, they have not received proper answers yet.
This is a very sad state of affairs and continues the sustained federal government and bureaucratic abuse of our Veterans and their families.” said Senator Lambie.
“I am shocked and disgusted by disclosures in today’s media that a violent armed robber on parole was employed to deliver Census forms to Tasmanian households.
This revelation, combined with the fact that the Minister responsible for the Census, Mr McCormack said the extraordinary decision to retain names was taken by the Bureau rather than the Government – and the Census was no worse than facebook – is an insult to the intelligence of many Tasmanians who have legitimate fears about their families’ privacy, safety and identity security.
Five years ago when the Census was last taken – we did not have our largest international trading partner, China going rogue, ignoring an international court’s rulings – and threatening military action against members of our ADF who chose to exercise Australia’s right to sail in international Asian waters.
Five years ago a sophisticated cyber war was not being waged against Australian Government departments’ data by China and possibly, other hostile foreign powers.
And five years ago, we did not have a national security alert, which says: Terrorism Threat Level is PROBABLE and the public should continue to exercise caution.
Many Tasmanians, myself included – consider that raising concerns and asking questions about this year’s Census and its surprising new rules – is simply adapting to rapidly changing technical and social environment and follows the government’s own official advice to exercise caution.
I commissioned a Parliamentary Library research on the Census and point 2 of the executive summary raises questions about whether the Census Data could be collected in a different manner. Point 2 says:
1. Although data from the Census could be obtained through other methods (for example, sample surveys and administrative data), it is currently the most efficient means through which to obtain certain information.” Said Senator Lambie.
Rob Messenger for Independent Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie
