Man denies census charge

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 10

Man denies census charge

A man who refused to supply a properly completed personal census form last year has appeared in the District Court. Russell Gray Reid Anderson. aged 35. a journalist, pleaded not guilty to a charge that he refused to supply the particulars required of him in the 1981 census. Judge Palmer reserved decision until next

Friday. Anderson told the Court in evidence that he had not filled in a census form. "I was concerned about the confidentiality of the information. There was’a great deal of publicity and a lot of assurances given before the census about the confidentiality of the personal in-

formation sought.” Mr Anderson said.

“It was my personal belief that if among the information a person’s name or identity was sought no such confidentiality could be guaranteed.”

Anderson said that he was prepared to give the statistical information but not his name.

Anderson told of being visited by officials of the Statistics Department on various occasions, the first time by a "scruffily dressed” young man with no identification. who asked him for his personal census form. Anderson said he told that man to go away and get proper identification, which he had done.

Anderson said that on the second visit he told the man of his objection to giving a form’ with his name and signature on it. The man had told him he could not accept the form without those details.

Mr Anderson also told of another visit by two Statistics Department officials who came to deliver an official reminder notice to him. The meeting became heated because of one of the officials "intimidatory” attitude.

"I don’t remember his exact words, but he said something like: We have had trouble with people like you before, we know how to handle matters like this’.’’ said Anderson. Anderson said he refused to accept the reminder notice and had ordered the two officials to leave. He said he was often out of town on assignment and he couldnot remember ■ whether he

was at his home on the night of the census. Earlier. Sally Lindsay, a journalist, told the court that she occupied the house with Mr Anderson and her son. She filled in a census dwelling questionnaire in which she said that the house was occupied on the night of the census by two males and one female However, she said, she filled in the forms before census night, assuming that the people living in the house would be there on the night, and left them aside to be collected. She could not remember if Anderson was actually in the house on census night. Statistics Department census officials also gave evidence of visiting Anderson to ask for a completed personal census form and to remind him of his lege) obligation to supply the particulars sought.

Mr D. J. Taffs, who appeared for Anderson, submitted that the charge must fail because the Statistics Department had failed to prove that Anderson was in the house on census night.

Mr P. A. Boyce, for the department, said that all the department had to show was that Anderson had failed to supply the particulars required of him. and Anderson had frankly admitted that.