THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP
Shadow Minister for Emergency Management
Shadow Minister for Tourism
Federal Member for Maranoa
12 August 2026
REGIONAL QUEENSLAND LEFT BEHIND AS CENSUS DEBACLE UNFOLDS
Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has written to Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh demanding urgent action, and an assurance that no one will be fined, after entire communities across Western Queensland were left without Census forms or any practical way to be counted on Census night.
Mr Littleproud said no matter your postcode, you should be counted, and this debacle shows just how little regard this Government has for regional Australia.
“Whether you live in the middle of a capital city or the middle of the outback, you deserve to be counted. This shamble shows the sheer neglect this Government has for regional areas,” Mr Littleproud said.
Mr Littleproud said his electorate offices had been inundated with complaints from residents in Roma, Longreach, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Eulo, Yowah and Ilfracombe, who received no Census information at all, despite public messaging warning of penalties for non-compliance.
“These aren’t isolated cases, they’re entire communities that have been forgotten,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The ABS designed a process that relies heavily on digital engagement, without accounting for the reality of life in rural and remote Australia. Many of my constituents aren’t computer literate, and many simply don’t have the internet access or mobile coverage to complete an online Census, even if they wanted to.”
Mr Littleproud said no one who was unable to complete the Census through no fault of their own should face a fine.
“It is not good enough to threaten people with fines when the Government failed to give them the means to comply in the first place. No family, farmer or older Australian should be penalised for a mess that belongs entirely to the Bureau of Statistics.”
Mr Littleproud has called on the ABS to urgently confirm no penalties will be issued to affected communities, and to explain what remedial action will now be taken.
“Regional Queenslanders deserve to be counted, not forgotten, and they should never be punished for a mess of the Government’s own making,” Mr Littleproud said.
*ENDS*
As of 12:00 (noon), 12 August there has been no response from the minister
