• im_fine_sandy@nord.pub
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    2 days ago

    That’s true but the risk of being fined is infinitesimal.

    Very few people are fined each time, less than 100 australia wide:

    https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/no-one-yet-prosecuted-over-2016-census-boycott/8315898

    The fine is $364 per day up to a maximum of 10 days for refusing to follow the direction of a statistician.

    So if you don’t complete the form, their policy is to contact you in person and ask, then give you a direction to complete the form. If you refuse to follow that direction they may refer you to court but that’s not necessarily the case.

    They also have a policy of only referring people when their refusal harms the quality of the census. That pretty much means they’re only going to fine conscientious objectors, and assholes.

    In my own case, I did not refuse to complete the form. I completed the form incorrectly. The potential fine is $3,640 or something. I would be interested to see a case in which they could apply that. Without an admission of guilt it would be difficult to prosecute and ultimately yield no benefit.

    • Zagorath@aussie.zone
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      2 days ago

      I completed the form incorrectly.

      On purpose? That’s so much worse than just not filling it at all. That’s a total arsehole move.

      • im_fine_sandy@nord.pub
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        1 day ago

        LOL. No it’s not.

        Basic statistical analysis requires data to be normalised.

        It’s trivial to account for non-responses like mine.