Just months from the 2026 census, the statistics bureau is scrambling to prevent a repeat of past digital failures, with internal security ratings flashing red and emergency specialists hired to patch critical vulnerabilities.
A report from the Auditor-General revealed that despite the 2016 website crash, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) failed to properly plan for security across its wider computer network.
The situation became critical in early 2026 when executives warned that money for vital security contractors was set to run out in March, leaving no extra time in the schedule.
