The Australian Bureau of Statistics has selected me to undertake its ‘Economic Activity Survey 2009-10’. Bugger it.<\/p>\n
That means I have to fill it its twenty page form. Have to.<\/p>\n
Or do I?<\/p>\n
I have been carefully ignoring it for the past few weeks. Just as I carefully ignored the reminder letter. The one that stated a little more forcefully that I should comply with the request. But I’m not ignoring the one that arrived today saying that ‘businesses face penalties of up to $110 per day for failure to complete and return a form when directed to do so by the Australian Statistician or his delegate’. Quite a threat.<\/p>\n
Except that so far I’ve only been requested<\/em> to complete the form. That’s how I read what looks to be the relevant section<\/a>. Failing to comply with a direction <\/em>under ss.10(4) is an offence under s.14<\/a>, but this is silent on complying with a request <\/em>under ss.10(3).<\/p>\n Which makes me wonder: Does the Australian Bureau of Statistics employ any competent lawyers?<\/p>\n Here’s a paragraph from the letter I’m writing in response:<\/p>\n I am amazed that it requires a mere freelance writer to inform you of your legal requirements. Do you not have legal staff? Or have I entirely missed some hidden part of your Act? As I sit here, writing this letter, I still have a nagging feeling that I must have missed something. Surely, I think, an organisation as large as yours, with the weight of the Government of Australian behind it, couldn\u2019t be so utterly dumb in this part of its activities? If I am in error, I will require you to explicitly specify the authority that you are actually using, and to comply with the terms of that authority.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Well, \u00a0I’m certainly hoping I haven’t missed something important here. Could get expensive!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Australian Bureau of Statistics has selected me to undertake its ‘Economic Activity Survey 2009-10’. Bugger it. That means I have to fill it its twenty page form. Have to. Or do I? I have been carefully ignoring it for … Continue reading