Review of 2021 Census Topics

Response 84622010

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Topic name
Dear ABS,
As a member of Prosper Australia, I would like to see the ‘site analysis form’ for census surveyors include a section for vacant land. At present vacant land sites are not currently recorded. On-the-ground surveyors could easily record the existence of a vacant site with the tick of a box.
With the property data gold rush in full swing, it is important there is a public record of vacant sites. This is very useful for land use analysis regarding a suite of public policy outcomes, including in respect of housing affordability.
With state and federal governments employing charges on vacant property, this data collection node would be of interest to public servants and policy analysts alike.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit.

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Topics on Housing

Choose one or more of the following topics that relates to your submission

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Ticked Type of tenure (nature of occupancy)
Structure and types of dwellings
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Assessment Criteria 1

1. This topic is of current national importance.

National Importance
It is important there is a public record of vacant sites.
This is very useful for land use analysis regarding a suite of public policy outcomes, including in respect of housing affordability.
With state and federal governments employing charges on vacant property, this data collection node would be of interest to public servants and policy analysts alike.

Assessment Criteria 2

2. There is a need for data from a Census of the whole population.

For whole population
It is important there is a public record of vacant sites. This is very useful for land use analysis regarding a suite of public policy outcomes, including in respect of housing affordability.
With state and federal governments employing charges on vacant property, this data collection node would be of interest to public servants and policy analysts alike.

Assessment Criteria 3

3. The topic can be accurately collected in a form which the household completes themselves.

Easy to answer
The ‘site analysis form’ for census surveyors could include a section for vacant land. At present vacant land sites are not currently recorded. On-the-ground surveyors could easily record the existence of a vacant site with the tick of a box.

Assessment Criteria 4

4. The topic would be acceptable to Census respondents.

Acceptable
Census respondents are not impacted by this topic or the recording of this data

Assessment Criteria 5

5. The topic can be collected efficiently.

Collected efficiently
The ‘site analysis form’ for census surveyors could include a section for vacant land. At present vacant land sites are not currently recorded. On-the-ground surveyors could easily record the existence of a vacant site with the tick of a box.

Assessment Criteria 6

6. There is likely to be a continuing need for data on this topic in the following Census.

Continuing need
It is important there is a public record of vacant sites. This is very useful for land use analysis regarding a suite of public policy outcomes, including in respect of housing affordability.
With state and federal governments employing charges on vacant property, this data collection node would be of interest to public servants and policy analysts alike.

Assessment Criteria 7

7. There are no other alternative data sources or solutions that could meet the topic need.

No alternatives
At present vacant land sites are not currently recorded, so there is no other alternative at present