Concern ethnic communities left out in the cold on Census

South Australian Labor MP Steve Georganas says there hasn’t been enough government engagement with Australia’s ethnic communities on the Census, potentially leaving some among them ill-informed about how to navigate the process – with serious implications for policy design.

There hasn't been enough promotion of Census 2016': Steve Georganas Source: Supplied

Mr Georganas told SBS he is worried that the Australian Bureau of Statistics hasn’t provided enough guidance about Census 2016 to people whose first language is not English.

"There's been not enough promotion of it, explanation of it, and certainly not in the ethnic and non-English-speaking communities where a lot of people would be totally unaware that it's on,” he says.

Mr Georganas adds he has received reports that the ABS Census helpline is inaccessible for extended periods of time, and doesn't offer assistance in languages other than English.

“If you don't have the English skills to speak to the person on the other end you have no way of communicating with them that you need assistance."

This year the ABS requires residents to register to complete the Census online or request a paper form.

Will the ABS receive inaccurate information?

Mr Georganas says he is concerned that, because of inadequate information and support, people of non-English speaking backgrounds may submit incomplete forms or incorrectly fill them out, and that could affect policy design for communities.

“You’ll never know what the issues are in particular groups to be able to support and provide services for a particular demographic in the future.”

“It’s really important that we engage with every single citizen in the nation to be able to get a good, broad picture of where we’re heading, where issues are, what our needs are, and certainly the needs of smaller communities as for whom, perhaps, English isn’t their first language.”

SBS has contacted the ABS for comment.

Census night is Tuesday, August 9.