{"id":"F2017L01006","name":"Census and Statistics (Statistical Information) Direction 2017","slug":"census-and-statistics-statistical-information-direction-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":96909,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L01006-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n  This is the Census and Statistics (Statistical Information) Direction 2017.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 2 Authority\n\n  This direction is given under paragraph 9(1)(b) of the Census and Statistics Act 1905 (the Statistics Act).","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Collection of statistics","content":"#### 3 Collection of statistics\n\n  (1) The Statistician is to collect the following statistical information in relation to matters prescribed for the purposes of section 9 of the Statistics Act (in particular, one or more of items 5, 30 and 38 in the table in regulation 13 of the Census and Statistics Regulation 2016):\n    (a) statistical information about the proportion of electors who wish to express a view about whether the law should be changed to allow same‑sex couples to marry (participating electors);\n    (b) statistical information about the proportion of participating electors who are in favour of the law being changed to allow same‑sex couples to marry;\n    (c) statistical information about the proportion of participating electors who are against the law being changed to allow same‑sex couples to marry.\n  (2) The statistical information is to include information about participating electors at the national level, at the level of each State and Territory, and at the level of each electoral division.\n  (3) In relation to the statistical information identified, the Statistician is to publish the results to which section 12 of the Statistics Act refers on or before 15 November 2017.\n  (4) In this section:\n\n> elector means a person who, at the end of 24 August 2017:\n\n    (a) is an elector as defined by subsection 4(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, meets the requirements of paragraphs 93(1)(a) and (b) of that Act, and is not a person to whom subsection 93(8AA) of that Act applies; or\n    (b) has made a claim or application for enrolment that is in order, is entitled to and qualified for enrolment, meets the requirements of paragraphs 93(1)(a) and (b) of that Act, and is not a person to whom subsection 93(8AA) of that Act applies.","sortOrder":2}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Direction served its specific, narrow purpose: authorising a one-off statistical collection on a single policy question. It did not expand the underlying Census and Statistics Act 1905 beyond its original scope—it merely used existing powers for a novel purpose. The Direction expired once its function was complete (results published November 2017) and has no ongoing regulatory effect."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (4 sections, ~250 words)","Only 1 defined term ('elector'), though this definition cross-references multiple provisions of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918","Simple conditional structure: three straightforward data collection requirements in subsection (1)","Single cross-reference to the Census and Statistics Act 1905 (the enabling legislation) and the Census and Statistics Regulation 2016 (for subject matter scope)","No nested exceptions or complex procedural requirements","Clear, fixed deadline (15 November 2017)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Direction ordered the Australian Statistician to run a national survey of eligible voters asking whether the law should be changed to allow same‑sex couples to marry, reporting participation, support and opposition counts nationally, by state/territory and by federal electorate, with results published by 15 November 2017. It affected the Statistician and all electors on the roll as of 24 August 2017 and created the legal basis—and controversy—for the 2017 postal survey."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Direction narrows the Statistician's general statistical powers under the Census and Statistics Act into a specific, one‑off obligation to collect and publish defined statistics about the 2017 same‑sex marriage survey, including precise geographic breakdowns and a publication deadline (ss 2–3). It thus changes scope from general/statutory authority to a focused, time‑bound task."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow subject matter: a single, time‑limited data collection tied to a specific survey (s 3(1)).","Clear, prescriptive obligations: identifies exact statistics to collect and a firm publication deadline (s 3(1)–(3)).","Geographic disaggregation requirement increases operational detail: national, State/Territory and electoral division levels (s 3(2)).","Dependence on external definitions and instruments: refers to matters prescribed for s 9 of the Statistics Act and items in regulation 13 of the Census and Statistics Regulation 2016 (s 3(1)).","Defined enrolment cut‑off and cross‑reference to the Commonwealth Electoral Act for who counts as an elector (s 3(4)), creating administrative dependencies with the electoral roll.","Limited detail on resourcing, methodology or enforcement in the Direction, leaving implementation choices to the Statistician (ss 2–3)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Direction requires the Australian Statistician to collect and publish specific statistics about the 2017 postal survey on same‑sex marriage: how many enrolled electors participated, and among participants the proportions for and against changing the law. Results must be published nationally, by State/Territory and by electoral division by 15 November 2017 (ss 2–3). The instrument names who must act (the Statistician) and defines who counts as an elector (s 3(4)); it does not set funding, penalties or operational detail for how the collection is to be resourced."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/census-and-statistics-statistical-information-direction-2017","history":"/api/acts/census-and-statistics-statistical-information-direction-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/census-and-statistics-statistical-information-direction-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/census-and-statistics-statistical-information-direction-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/census-and-statistics-statistical-information-direction-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/census-and-statistics-statistical-information-direction-2017/documents"}}