{"id":"C1912L00227","name":"Census and Statistics Regulations (Provisional)","slug":"c1912l00227","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"227 of 1912","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":320159,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1912L00227-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Census and Statistics Regulations (Provisional)","content":"STATUTORY RULES.\n\n1912\\. No. 227.\n\n![](image.001.png)provisional regulation under the census and STATISTICS ACT 1905.\n\nI, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby certify that, on account of urgency, the following Regulation under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 should come into immediate operation, and make the Regulation to come into operation forthwith as a “Provisional Regulation.”\n\nDated this 27th day of November, One thousand nine hundred and twelve.\n\n#### DENMAN,\n\nGovernor-General.\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command,\n\nKING O’MALLEY,\n\nMinister of State for Home Affairs.\n\n![](image.001.png)Return of Trade Union Statistics.\n\n1\\. (1) The Secretary, or Acting Secretary, or other officer of every Trade Union shall, within fourteen days after being required in writing by the Statistician or by an Agent and Correspondent duly appointed under Statutory Rules 1912, No. 12, so to do, furnish to the Statistician the particulars set out in the prescribed forms of return of Trade Union Statistics.\n\n(2) In order to comply with this Regulation, the Secretary, Acting Secretary, or other officer, as the case may be, of every Trade Union, shall fill in the particulars in the prescribed forms, and shall sign the form and transmit it, either by post or otherwise, to the Statistician or to such Agent and Correspondent as aforesaid.\n\n(3) In this Regulation “Trade Union” includes—\n\n(a) Every Trade Union, whether registered or unregistered;\n\n(b) Every Branch of a Trade;\n\n(c) Every Association of the nature of a Trade Union, or having objects similar to those of a Trade Union; and\n\n(d) Every Branch of an Association, coming within paragraph (c).\n\nC.16428.—Price 3d. \n\n(4) The prescribed forms of return of Trade Union Statistics are as follow:—\n\nT.U. 18.\n\nOffice No.—\n\nState—\n\nClass No.—\n\nCommonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics,\n\nLabour and Industrial Branch, Melbourne.\n\nTRADE UNION STATISTICS.\n\n(Information required under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905.)\n\nEmployment and Membership, Report for Quarter ended the\n\nBranch Return.\n\nThis Return must be dispatched not later than the\n\nNotice.—Individual Returns are regarded as strictly confidential, and will not be published separately or disclosed under any circumstances. Each question should be answered carefully, in order that further correspondence may be rendered unnecessary. Where the proper answer is “None,” that word or the figure “0” should be written in, so that the Bureau may know that the question has been attended to and answered by you. The information given must refer to your Branch only.\n\nFull Name of Branch—\n\nDistrict or Locality covered by same—\n\n```html\n

Question.

Reply.

1. What was the Total Number of Members of your Branch on

Males.

Females.

2. (a) State, so far as you know, the Total Number of Members of your Branch who were unemployed for more than three days during the week ending the , excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out…………….

(If exact numbers not available, approximate, or estimated figures will be of value.)

(b) If available, specify separately the number of such members who were unemployed—

(i.) On account of lack of work.....................

(ii.) On account of sickness or accident................

(iii.) On account of other reasons....................

(Excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out.)

3. In your opinion, was employment in your district and in your trade during the week ended the Good, Moderate, or Bad……………….

4. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any changes in rates of wages or hours of labour occurred in your district and in your trade during

5. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any trade dispute (causing stoppage of work) occurred or was in progress in your district and in your trade during

\n```\n\nWere there any special circumstances affecting employment in your district and in your trade during the three months referred to? If so, give particulars—\n\nSignature of Secretary or other Union Official supplying the above information—\n\nAddress—\n\nDate—\n\n(Remarks with reference to any question or matter, such as Short Time or Overtime, may be written on the back of this sheet.) \n\nT.U. 19.\n\nOffice No.—\n\nState—\n\nClass No.—\n\nCommonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics,\n\nLabour and Industrial Branch, Melbourne.\n\nTRADE UNION STATISTICS.\n\n(Information required under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905.)\n\nEmployment and Membership, Report for Quarter ended the\n\nHead Office Return (exclusive of Country Branches).\n\nThis Return must be dispatched not later than the\n\nNotice.—Individual Returns are regarded as strictly confidential, and will not be published separately or disclosed under any circumstances. Each question should be answered carefully, in order that further correspondence may be rendered unnecessary. Where the proper answer is “None,” that word or the figure “0” should be written in, so that the Bureau may know that the question has been attended to and answered by you. The information given must refer to your Local Organization only; separate Returns are being collected direct from your Branch Secretaries.\n\nFull Name of Trade Union—\n\nDistrict or Locality covered by same—\n\n```html\n

Question.

Reply.

1. What was the Number of Members of your Local Organization on.....

Males.

Females.

2. (a) State, so far as you know, the Total Number of Members of your Local Organization who were unemployed for more than three days during the week ending the excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out

(If exact numbers not available, approximate or estimated figures will be of value.)

(b) If available, specify separately the number of such members who were unemployed—

(i.) On account of lack of work.....................

(ii.) On account of sickness or accident................

(iii.) On account of other reasons....................

(Excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out.)

3. In your opinion, was employment in your district and in your trade during the week ended the Good, Moderate, or Bad……………………………………………………….

4. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any changes in rates of wages or hours of labour occurred in your district and in your trade during

5. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any trade dispute (causing stoppage of work) occurred or was in progress in your district and in your trade during

\n```\n\nWere there any special circumstances affecting employment in your district and in your trade during the three months referred to? If so, give particulars—\n\nSignature of Secretary or other Union Official supplying the above information—\n\nAddress—\n\nDate—\n\n(Remarks with reference to any question or matter, such as Short Time or Overtime, may be written on the back of this sheet.) \n\nT.U. 20.\n\nOffice No.—\n\nState‑‑‑\n\nClass No.—\n\nCommonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics\n\nLabour and Industrial Branch, Melbourne.\n\nTRADE UNION STATISTICS.\n\n(Information required under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905.)\n\nEmployment and Membership, Report for Quarter ended the\n\nHead Office Return for Whole State (inclusive of Branches).\n\nThis Return must be dispatched not later than the\n\nNotice.—Individual Returns are regarded as strictly confidential, and will not be published separately or disclosed under any circumstances. Each question should be answered carefully, in order that further correspondence may be rendered unnecessary. Where the proper answer is “None,” that word or the figure “0” should be written in so that the Bureau may know that the question has been attended to and answered by you. The information given must refer to your whole Organization in your State, and must therefore include all Branches in your State.\n\nFull Name of Trade Union—\n\n```html\n

Question.

Reply.

1. What was the Number of Members of your State Organization on.....

Males.

Females.

2. (a) State, so far as you know, the Total Number of Members of your State Organization who were unemployed for more than three days during the week ending the , excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out……………………….

(If exact numbers not available, approximate or estimated figures will be of value.)

(b) If available, specify separately the number of such members who were unemployed—

(i.) On account of lack of work.....................

(ii.) On account of sickness or accident................

(iii.) On account of other reasons....................

(Excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out.)

3. In your opinion, was employment in your trade during the week ended the Good, Moderate, or Bad……………….

4. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any changes in rates of wages or hours of labour occurred in your trade during

5. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any trade dispute (causing stoppage of work) occurred or was in progress in your trade during

\n```\n\nWere there any special circumstances affecting employment in your trade during the three months referred to? If so, give particulars—\n\nSignature of Secretary or other Union Official supplying the above information—\n\nAddress—\n\nDate—\n\n(Please furnish on the back of this sheet a list of Branches in your State for which Returns as to membership and unemployment are included in this Report. Remarks with reference to any other question or matter, such as Short Time or Overtime, may also be written on the back.) \n\nT.U. 21.\n\nOffice No,—\n\nState—\n\nClass No.—\n\nCommonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics,\n\nLabour and Industrial Branch, Melbourne.\n\nTRADE UNION STATISTICS.\n\n(Information required under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905.)\n\nEmployment and Membership, Report for Quarter ended the\n\nThis Return must be dispatched not later than the\n\nNotice.—Individual Returns are regarded as strictly confidential, and will not be published separately or disclosed under any circumstances. Each question should be answered carefully, in order that further correspondence may be rendered unnecessary, Where the proper answer is “None,” that word or the figure “0” should be written in, so that the Bureau may know that the question has been attended to and answered by you,\n\nFull Name of Trade Union—\n\nDistrict or Locality covered by same—\n\n```html\n

Question.

Reply.

1. What was the Total Number of Members of your Organization on.....

Males.

Females.

2. (a) State, so far as you know, the Total Number of Members of your Organization who were unemployed for more than three days during the week ending the , excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out……………………….

(If exact numbers not available, approximate or estimated figures will be of value.)

(b) If available, specify separately the number of such members who were unemployed—

(i.) On account of lack of work.....................

(ii.) On account of sickness or accident................

(iii.) On account of other reasons....................

(Excluding those out of work through strike or lock-out.)

3. In your opinion, was employment in your trade during the week ended the , Good, Moderate, or Bad…………………………………………………

4. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any changes in rates of wages or hours of labour occurred in your trade during

5. Please state “Yes” or “No” whether any trade dispute (causing stoppage of work) occurred or was in progress in your trade during

\n```\n\nWere there any special circumstances affecting employment in your trade during the three months referred to? If so give particulars—\n\nSignature of Secretary or other Union Official supplying the above information—\n\nAddress—\n\nDate—\n\n(Remarks with reference to any question or matter, such as Short Time or Overtime, may be written on the back of this sheet.)\n\nPrinted and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Acting Government Printer for the State of Victoria.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":1268},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation precisely matches its original intent under the Census and Statistics Act 1905. It establishes exactly what it claims to— a system for collecting trade union statistics—without expanding into unrelated areas or adding extraneous provisions."},"complexity_factors":["Single operative provision creating a direct administrative obligation","Four prescribed forms with standardized tabular questions","Broad but unambiguous definition of 'Trade Union' covering registered, unregistered, and similar associations","No conditional exceptions, nested clauses, or complex cross-referencing","Straightforward confidentiality provision without qualifications"],"plain_english_summary":"This 1912 regulation requires all trade unions and union-like organizations (including unregistered bodies and branches) to submit quarterly returns to the Commonwealth, completed by the secretary or acting officer. Prescribed forms collect membership counts (by sex), unemployment of members out more than three days (by cause), local work conditions, changes to wages/hours, and whether strikes or lockouts occurred. Individual returns are kept strictly confidential; only aggregated statistics may be published. Unions must comply within 14 days of a written request."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation prescribes reporting obligations under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 by specifying who must report, what returns to use and timing. The text does not assert an expansion or narrowing of the Act’s statutory reach beyond implementing data collection (other than defining ‘Trade Union’ for the purpose of these returns). No comparison to an earlier instrument is provided in the source, so it does not show a change of scope from prior intent."},"complexity_factors":["Broad definition of “Trade Union” that captures registered and unregistered bodies, branches and similar associations (Reg. 1(3))","Multiple prescribed return formats and reporting levels (branch, head office, whole state — T.U.18–T.U.21) increasing administrative detail","Short compliance window: 14 days to furnish information after a written requirement (Reg. 1(1))","Discretion given to the Statistician or appointed Agents to require returns (Reg. 1(1)), creating variable demand timing and volume","Mandatory signature and transmission requirements for officers supplying returns (Reg. 1(2))","Specified data categories (membership, unemployment with causes, wage/hour changes, disputes) and explicit exclusion of strike/lock‑out in some counts, which shapes how unions must classify events","Confidentiality statement on forms limiting public disclosure but not removing reporting burden (form notices)","Provisional/urgent commencement noted on instrument (Governor‑General certificate), affecting immediate operationalisation"],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this provisional regulation requires every trade union (broadly defined to include unregistered associations and branches) to supply quarterly statistical returns to the Commonwealth Statistician or appointed agents within 14 days of a written request. Prescribed forms (branch, head office and state) collect membership, numbers unemployed (with causes), changes in wages/hours and trade disputes. Unions bear the reporting and record‑keeping burden; the Statistician or agents decide when to require returns. Individual returns are labelled confidential on the forms."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/c1912l00227","history":"/api/acts/c1912l00227/history","analysis":"/api/acts/c1912l00227/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/c1912l00227/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/c1912l00227/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/c1912l00227/documents"}}