I ran across this item on the ABC News website, titled "
Where does my information go and why does the ABS need my name?" that is quoting the ABS census data processing director Tracey Chester:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-0...ata-go/7677240
It is a worry that Tracey does not seem to be sure about how the separation of the name, address, and other data actually takes place - other than "
I guess".
In relation to why they need names, I provide this quote from the interview/article:
Ms Chester said name data was important for two reasons; it helps the person filling out the form remember whose information they're including and helps the ABS establish some of the more complex relationships within a household.
ABS agency head David Kalisch said names were required to produce quality national statistics.
"We find when people provide their name they provide better quality information and they provide more accurate information," he said.
Hmmm, so if you live alone (without those messy complex relationships that people in them don't apparently understand well enough to fill in a form) you could probably just call yourself any name you like,
IF, as they keep claiming, there will be no matching downstream. Implied in the David's (the above ABS Agency Head) answer, is that people will lie to the ABS if they don't put their name on the form.
So that appears to be the basis for which names are required. Feel better? I certainly do.
I leave you with a quote from Malcolm Reynolds: "So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave."