Two-thirds of Australians are expected to fill in the census online when it is held this time next year.
The census, set for 9 August 2016, will be the first to be done mainly digitally, making it one of the biggest online events in Australia’s history, government MP Kelly O’Dwyer says.
She says the digital survey will be easier to fill in, more accurate and the country’s most environmentally friendly census, and should result in two-thirds of people taking up the option.
It is also set to produce cost savings of $100m for the government, as fewer staff will be needed to collect and process the census data when it arrives.
People have previously had the option of doing the census online, and in 2011 about one-third used it.
O’Dwyer says it will be even easier this time, as everyone will be given their own log-in code, which they will receive in the mail.
Those not ready to take the leap online can use the paper forms.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, digitalisation of the census will save 65m sheets of paper.
In February, the 2016 census was in doubt when the ABS went into talks with the federal government to change the five-yearly event into a 10-yearly occurrence in a bid to save money for upgrades to its computer system.
