Aussie census draws privacy backlash, partial boycott

Sydney

AUSTRALIA's national census, which provides a snapshot every five years of the country's people, from religion to income, has become an unlikely flashpoint over privacy concerns.

Australians are being asked to fill in a host of details about themselves online for the first time in the 105-year history of the census, leading some politicians and privacy advocates to partially boycott the survey. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said the information gathered is important because it helps set public policy.