Review of 2021 Census Topics - Australian Bureau of Statistics

Response 32964530

What is your submission about?

Please provide a brief summary of your submission

The transport to work question is probably better as two questions.
1. Which form of transport did you most use (eg walking, driving etc.)
2. To where did you spend most time commuting (eg. work, school etc.)

Choose your area of interest

Please select one item

(Required)

Population

Sex and gender

Households and families

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Income and work

Unpaid work and care

Education and training

Disability and carers

Housing

Location

Transport

Cultural diversity

Religion

Topics on Transport

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

Please select all that apply

Mode of travel to work

Name and address of workplace attended

Number of motor vehicles

Other/unknown

Assessment Criteria 1

1. This topic is of current national importance.

The transport to work question could better be utilised as two questions.
1. What was your most common form of transport? (eg. driving, public transport)
2. To where did you spend most time commuting (eg work, school)

This way the forms of transport people use will be less restricted, and there will be a better idea of what forms of transport are being used and where.

Assessment Criteria 2

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

The questions I have proposed would better encompass the whole population, not just the working population.

Assessment Criteria 3

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

The questions I have proposed would be simple for a household to answer

Assessment Criteria 4

4. The topic would be acceptable to Census respondents.

While more comprehensive than the current questions, it is not intrusive.
Options need to be made available for pedestrian transport that is not walking, for example use of mobility devices.

Assessment Criteria 5

5. The topic can be collected efficiently.

I do not know if this will have a large financial impact on the census.

Assessment Criteria 6

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

This data is important for public transport routing, possible bike paths, and road works. It is very important and likely to remain relevant in the future.

Assessment Criteria 7

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

I do not know which other data sources may exist. I know the questions I am proposing are an extension on already asked questions.