Senator COOPER (Queensland) (Leader of the Opposition) . - The object of this bill is to simplify procedure and facilitate the publication of statistics. I appreciate the clear manner in which the Minister for Health (Senator McKenna) has explained the various provisions of the measure. The most important amendment appears to be to section 24 of the principal act to make abundantly clear to all people that the information collected' for statistical purposes will not be divulged by the Government. It is very important that the community should be assured that confidential information furnished on census and statistical forms will be treated as such. The maintenance of such secrecy is an unwritten and inviolable law which should be observed by all members and government departments. Other amendments are designed to eliminate unnecessary work in connexion with the preparation of statistics. Hitherto, every time that an amendment to a statistical form was required, the authority of the Treasurer has had to be obtained. This measure provides for an easier and simpler method of effecting alterations of the forms. The additional sub-section to be added to section 17 of the principal act will ensure that prosecutions for failure to furnish returns cannot be instituted without the consent of the Minister. I welcome that provision, because it will enable prosecutions to be made uniformly and in the name of the Minister who is directly answerable to the Parliament. I am also pleased to note that provision is made to reduce to a minimum the number of forms required to be returned by individuals for statistical purposes. That will prove helpful to large business organizations, and, as I know from personal experience, to primary producers generally. Although it is necessary that statistical returns shall be supplied, their preparation is irksome. I note, for instance, that builders in Victoria will be required to supply only one return for both Commonwealth and State purposes. I am sure that all members of the Parliament fully appreciate the value of the official statistics which are made available to us from time to time. Such information is of great assistance to us in our consideration of the complex matters that come before the Parliament.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time, and passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.