Selected for an ABS Survey

subywagon on 16/02/2017 - 18:47

So I was sent a letter stating the household has been selected for an ABS survey. An interviewer wants to come to my house and interrogate me in person. I don't feel comfortable being questioned about my private life by a complete stranger, no matter who or what they represent. Yes I know the government probably have all the info on my already etc etc, but I don't trust some random at all with any of my info.

Has anyone out there in ozbargain land been selected for this survey? What kind of information are they chasing? Also does anyone know if it's possible to complete online? I'm not happy about it, but I'd feel more comfortable submitting it that way (even after the last debacle.)

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Comments

  • ms_caz on 16/02/2017 - 18:54

    http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/home/Current+H…

    According to the website above:
    Not possible to complete online;
    participation is compulsory;
    survey and interview will be arranged at a time that is mutually convenient.

    • ronnknee on 16/02/2017 - 20:16

      Furthermore on that:

      CENSUS AND STATISTICS ACT 1905 - SECT 14

      Failure to answer questions etc.
      (1) A person commits an offence if:
      (a) the person is served a direction under subsection 10(4) or 11(2); and
      (b) the person fails to comply with the direction.

      Penalty: One penalty unit.

      One penalty unit is $180.

  • Diji1 on 16/02/2017 - 19:35
    -5

    participation is compulsory;

    I'd just refuse. It's worked for me so far for various things the gummint makes "compulsory".

    If you really dig your heels in aren't they going to realise that you'd make an atrocious subject because you're just not willing to work with them?

    • ronnknee on 16/02/2017 - 20:13

      Look at this special angel who thinks rules and laws don't apply to them.

      • mskeggs on 16/02/2017 - 20:44
        +2

        The ABS used to be an organisation with the highest ethics who took their job seriously and their obligations to privacy were very strict.
        In the last decade they have drastically reversed course to be invasive, incompetent and have explicitly sold out the community's privacy for cost savings and convenience. And they have couple this with a patronising sneer at the community that they know best and anyway, the law forces your submission. It is very objectionable.
        I assume you don't know this and still hold the ABS in high regard, hence your comment, or you have some other reason why you think it is ok to go along with their programmes without question.

        • Dave Id on 13/06/2017 - 17:35

          1981 Census employment/unemployment figures were seriously flawed.
          ABS knew that.
          Skewed to favor the govt at that time.
          All downhill since.

  • foxmulder on 16/02/2017 - 20:22
    +1

    You can do the survey online?

    Last time it receive letter from AbS and ignore them and get another letter with penalty. I did it anyway to avoid any trouble. Boy the survey is massive. Lots of questions. It was around 20-30 minutes.

    • subywagon on 16/02/2017 - 20:34

      Great… what kind of questions do they ask you?

      • foxmulder on 16/02/2017 - 20:46

        Business Characteristics Survey: Management Capabilities MOdule

  • kipps on 16/02/2017 - 22:26

    ABS are annoying as shit. I got selected for a "monthly population survey". Was chased every month for eight months to complete a substantially identical survey every time. It is bullshit.

  • garetz on 16/02/2017 - 22:37
    +2

    Australian democracy is a joke, if they dont want you to do something, and you do they fine you, if they want you to do something and you don't they fine you. Not really what a democracy should be doing.

    • subywagon on 16/02/2017 - 23:08

      I love this excerpt from their webpage:

      "As with other household surveys, the ABS relies on the willing cooperation of households."

  • syousef on 16/02/2017 - 22:51
    +2

    Happened to us a few years ago. It absolutely sucks and I hate it. Back then we (adults in the house) had to fill in a diary of everything you did for 2 days in five minute increments, and answer questions on stuff like unpaid housework, child minding. You can contact ABS to verify who they are and that you've really been selected.

    If you don't do it there is the threat of fines and there is actually the threat of jail time if you repeatedly refuse to comply. Someone mentioned 180 units. I believe that was for refusing once. They just ask you again…and again…and again…and eventually though I don't know if it has been tested you can wind up before a magistrate.

    I wonder how many people are honest about how long they spent on the toilet and any time spent in the bedroom. (At least they didn't ask for the specifics of that!).

    I objected to having my privacy invaded but what I objected to most was the unscientific nature of the survey. If it wasn't my turn to do household chores or I was working overtime that week it would be an excuse to bolster stats that men don't do housework. To make matters worse I had a relative high up in the ABS who'd always pontificate about how important and great the ABS is.

    • subywagon on 16/02/2017 - 23:10

      Do you know what survey you had to do? I think mine is the "SPECIAL SOCIAL SURVEY" as there has been no mention of 8 months so far. I'm assuming it's the same one as you… god, I never keep track about how much time I spend doing chores etc… and f^&k telling them how long I spend on the toilet!!! I might demand to do the survey while I'm on the toilet!

      • syousef on 17/02/2017 - 05:45
        +1

        I think it was this one - "Time Use Survey". 2006 sounds about right. If so over a decade and I still resent it. The whole idea that you could take a 2 day sample of someone's life and determine how much housework they do over a longer period for example is nonsense.

        http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4153.0
        http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/4a256353001af3…
        http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/3414.0main+features262011%20(Edition%202)

        "Data collection

        8 Information was obtained in the Time Use Survey partly by interview and partly by self-completion diary. Trained ABS interviewers collected information, about the household and other members of the household, from an adult member of the selected household. The interviewer also instructed the interviewee on how resident adult household members (aged 15 years and over) were to record their activities (including their nature, timing and duration), in the diaries supplied, over two specified days. Instructions and two completed sample pages were also provided at the beginning of the diaries to guide respondents on the type of information and level of detail required. The layout of the diary was unchanged from the 1997 TUS.

        9 The diary was divided into two separate days, with fixed intervals of five minutes covering 24 hours from 12 am. Five columns with question headings organised responses into primary and secondary activities, for whom the activity was done, who else was there and where the activity took place. The diary included several questions at the start and end of each diary day relating to the individual. Diaries were collected by the interviewer on a return visit or mailed back to the ABS in a Reply Paid envelope."

        • subywagon on 17/02/2017 - 10:51
          +1

          Wow that sucks. I'm really not looking forward to my interrogation.

  • captobvious on 16/02/2017 - 22:51
    +1

    Was it hamish and andy?

  • BrewerHaHa on 17/02/2017 - 13:39
    +2

    Just thought I'd post my (most likely unpopular opinion) on here.

    Although people may not like being forced into things, there are real reasons that we are forced to be involved. Examples, voting, jury duty and this.

    Sampling is one of the most important things in statistics and without random sampling all the data that you have available to you online (and other places) would be worthless.

    I remember being told a story about a US Presidential election where 2 people had done a survey. One chose to sample from the phone book, one chose to sample from a motor registry. This story is quite old and was during a time where most people who had a car were white Americans. Obviously, the person who surveyed from the registry got it completely wrong with most white Americans voting Republican, while the other survey from the phone book was almost dead on correct with the Democrats winning that year.

    I know there was a huge thread on here about Trump and how he was elected. If every American voted, I'm sure it would have been a closer race.

    It's a hassle no doubt (I hate having to vote), but understanding its importance is of great value.

    NEG AWAY OZB

    • garetz on 17/02/2017 - 15:55
      +1

      The problem is unwilling participants will give false information skewing the data, making it worthless. If they want to get people to do this stuff then offer incentive, dont hit them with a fine stick. It will just make people more likely to give false information. Where does that leave the ABS, but worthless data collectors.

      • BrewerHaHa on 17/02/2017 - 16:01

        It's just like people throwing blank votes in the ballot. At the end of the day it does more harm than good which is why I said understanding was important.
        I'm also surprised that I haven't been negged by everyone who's stopped by. Shoutout to the one person who gave me the thumbs up.

      • Dave Id on 13/06/2017 - 17:40

        Census returns from womens' prisons make entertaining X rated reading.

  • subywagon on 17/02/2017 - 16:51

    I'm more annoyed about it having to be done in person as per my OP. I'm more inclined to give false data with someone present than a more anonymous method.

  • Mad Max on 17/02/2017 - 21:45
    +2

    Just act dumb and answer the questions with a load of random bullshit. And make the "interrogator" as unconfortable as you can possibly standing in a stinking hot room and you in your underpants. Make sure you get yourself a nice cold drink and do not offer anything.
    I bet they will not want to come back.
    I expect a lot of negs but that is exactly what I would do if I was bullied by ABS into this!

  • Penpen on 10/04/2017 - 17:08

    I have been harassed by the ABS since the end of January 2017 to do their Survey. I have refused on health grounds and will be back in hospital for major surgery next week. I am now awaiting the 4th letter insisting I allow an interviewer into my home. I believe the 4th letter is called "Notice of Direction" or something similar and I have been informed by other govt dept workers that I will need legal help ASAP. Apparently a medical certificate, notification of official hospital surgery forms, being on strong medications or even mental illness is no protection from this invasive government department. The stress of being stalked in my own home by a government department is confronting, and all under the guise of Federal law is disgusting.

    • subywagon on 10/04/2017 - 18:44

      Yeah it really sucks. I ended up just doing it to get it over and done with. They asked a bunch of questions to find out my socio-economic position (class) and questions as to whether I had a family network to help etc, and finally how safe I feel using public transport or around in general. The lady was nice enough, it was still hell annoying with a few private questions but I just got it over and done with. It may be worth you just getting it done too, as I'd think going to court etc will be more stressful than the interview.

      • Penpen on 10/04/2017 - 21:59

        Well they will need to track me down in hospital, but then come to think about it, the way they stalk a person, I wouldn't be surprised if they do just that! 😊
        After the horrendous Census attempt last year, it doesn't help that I now have no faith in their ability to keep sensitive data safe from hackers either here in Australia or from overseas.

        Glad it turned out okay for you in the end as it sounds like your Survey was not too bad, some are apparently very invasive on either personal levels or on personal financial data (from information I've researched).

        I'm just going to wait and see what happens as I've put in complaints formally in writing, via phone calls, to the interviewer who turned up unannounced and her manager who has also contacted me.

        Cheers Pen

        • Mad Max on 11/04/2017 - 10:23

          the interviewer who turned up unannounced and her manager who has also contacted me.

          So the interviewer was a female.
          Not to be sexist, but I would let her in for the interview and make her feel so unconfortable from the minute she walks in that she would leave and never come back.
          In my house I am allowed to do and behave as I please.

  • John coochey on 13/06/2017 - 17:19
    +1

    Simplest solution is ring up ABS on their supplied number and tell them the house is vacant! Works every time. Alternatively I have rung them and sai politely but firmly you will never cooperate. They spit and fume but then go away! Do not give your real name , or any name and they are stuffed!

    • PowerPants on 13/06/2017 - 17:44

      Last year I had someone slamming on the door… BANG BANG BANG. BANG BANG BAND! WTF, I thought I was going to be murdered. But they left a census card.

  • John coochey on 13/06/2017 - 17:19
    +1

    PS works for Census too!

  • thatguyfromthatplace on 22/06/2017 - 17:55
    +1

    There's a very simple loophole you can exploit to get out of it. Notice how they say your "household" has been selected, and no actual person has been named? That's because they don't have your name. They also do not have the power to compel a member of the household to identify themselves, so as long as none of you identify yourselves to the ABS, they won't know who to issue a fine or summons to. They will most likely continue trying to make contact in order to wear you down through pester power, but if you stick to your guns, they will go away eventually.

  • orly on 05/05/2019 - 22:17

    Resurrecting an old thread. Been doing this same stupid effing survey for 7 months now, can't come soon enough for the last survey. Pisses me off to no end especially with the constant reminders that the survey is now due. Eff you very much ABS, seriously.

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