Historical Context To The Inclusion of The Census Power
See also: Census in AustraliaThe first version of the Constitution included a census power. Its inclusion was not controversial. It can be seen as a class of 'nationhood powers' which reflected basic powers that a 'nation' was viewed with possessing (similar nationhood powers would include the currency power, the weights and measures power, and the postal power).
Australian colonies had collected statistics from settlement. The first simultaneous census was held across Australia in 1881 as part of the Census of the British Empire.
In December 1905 the Commonwealth Government passed The Census and Statistics Act 1905. The first Commonwealth Census after federation was held in 1911 (although a simultaneous state census was held in 1901).
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is the Commonwealth Agency responsible for census and statistics.
Read more about this topic: Section 51(xi) Of The Australian Constitution
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