Census cost doubles

Thanks to parliamentary questions from Chris Tremain we now know that the budgeted cost for the 2006 Census is $74.2 million (excluding GST). This total includes the development of the online Census option. The actual costs are not yet available as the processing and output phases of the Census are still underway. The total budget for the 2001 Census was $37.9 million (excluding GST). The actual cost was approximately $39.1 million (excluding GST).

That is one heck of a lot of money, one heck of a big rise.

Imagine if, in 2011, they funded it directly. You would be presented with an invoice with your forms, billing you around $20 per person in the household. Of course the poor wouldn't be charged meaning the "rich" would have to pay considerably more - maybe $40 per person. That might focus a few minds on where the money goes.