MARANOA MP David Littleproud has roasted the Federal Government over what he calls a “debacle” in relation to last night’s Census.
Mr Littleproud has written to Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh demanding urgent action, plus an assurance that no-one will be fined after entire communities across Western Queensland were left without Census forms or any practical way to be counted on Census night.
Mr Littleproud says regardless of postcode, you should be counted and that what’s happened reflected the Government’s attitude to the bush.
“Whether you live in the middle of a capital city or the middle of the Outback, you deserve to be counted. This shamble shows the sheer neglect this Government has for regional areas,” he says.
The former Nationals Leader says his electorate offices had been inundated with complaints from residents in Roma, Longreach, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Eulo, Yowah and Ilfracombe, who received no Census information at all, despite public messaging warning of penalties for non-compliance.
“These aren’t isolated cases. They’re entire communities that have been forgotten,” he says from his Parliamentary office in Canberra.
“The ABS designed a process that relies heavily on digital engagement, without accounting for the reality of life in rural and remote Australia. Many of my constituents aren’t computer literate, and many simply don’t have the internet access or mobile coverage to complete an online Census, even if they wanted to.”
Mr Littleproud says no one who was unable to complete the Census form, through no fault of their own, should face a fine.
“It is not good enough to threaten people with fines when the Government failed to give them the means to comply in the first place. No family, farmer or older Australian should be penalised for a mess that belongs entirely to the Bureau of Statistics,” he says.
Mr Littleproud has called on the ABS to urgently confirm no penalties will be issued to affected communities and to explain what remedial action will be taken.
“Regional Queenslanders deserve to be counted, not forgotten, and they should never be punished for a mess of the Government’s own making,” he says.
By midday today, there had been no response from Assistant Minister Leigh.
POSTED: Wednesday, August 12, 2026