Mayor voices concern with Census ‘undercounting’

Narrabri Shire Council is raising concerns about population undercounting ahead of the 2026 Census, warning that inaccurate data could leave communities short-changed on vital funding and services.

Council says there is strong anecdotal evidence its population was undercounted in the 2021 Census, an issue Mayor Darrell Tiemens is determined to prevent from happening again.

“The Census is one of the most important datasets used by all levels of government and many service providers to determine funding allocations, infrastructure investment and service delivery,” Cr Tiemens said.

“When regional communities are undercounted, it means they are effectively ripped off when it comes to hospitals, roads, housing and other essential services.”

The council points to several factors common in rural areas that can lead to people being missed, including itinerant agricultural workers, international temporary workers, backpackers, contractors working across large properties, and fly-in-fly-out or drive-in-drive-out mining employees on roster arrangements. Interstate truck drivers passing through the district, as well as people living in temporary or informal accommodation or without a fixed residence, may also go uncounted.

Narrabri Shire’s size and workforce patterns add to the challenge, according to the Cr Tiemens.

“Our shire covers an enormous geographic area, and our population is far more dynamic than many people realise,” he said.

“As Australia’s second-largest agricultural economy, we have a highly mobile workforce that must be accurately captured.

“People living in rural and remote areas of our shire lead very different lives to those living in suburban Sydney and therefore require a bespoke approach”.

The council is calling on the Australian Bureau of Statistics to increase its efforts and work more closely with regional communities to ensure a more accurate count in 2026.

“We understand the bureau have been allocating resources and support to gain quality Census data, but we are saying more needs to be done”, said Cr Tiemens.

“We are the ones of the ground seeing the disparity between the results of the 2021 Census and the allocations that our communities are receiving.

“We must ensure that the Census properly reflects the true scale and activity of regional communities like ours.”

Residents, workers and visitors in the shire on Census night in August are being urged to complete the Census locally, while employers are encouraged to stress its importance to their staff.

“Getting this right matters. Accurate data ensures regional communities receive their fair share of investment and support.”