ABS stands by census count

Australians will still have to stand and be counted regularly but the Bureau of Statistics is looking at how it can do this better and faster.

Reports in Fairfax Media on Thursday suggested the Abbott government was considering abandoning the five-yearly collection of data from all Australians.

But Australian statistician David Kalisch says while the bureau is looking at how it can make improvements it continues to be committed to the census.

Conservative governments in other countries including Britain and Canada have moved to change their census collections in recent years.

However, Mr Kalisch says the push for change locally has come from within.

"The census in its current form only provides a snapshot of Australia on one day every five years, and it takes some time for key information to be released," he said in a statement.

"The ABS is committed to the census."

The bureau has been considering for some time how to produce more frequent data on the economic and social conditions of Australians.

It's also looking at options for broader reform of the Australian statistical system, including more effective ways for other government organisation to collect statistics, like Mr Kalisch's former agency the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Mr Kalisch said there was value in having better and more frequent data.

The ABS has recommended options to the government on how to do this.

Mr Kalisch said the bureau would still produce high quality quarterly and annual population counts.

The next census is due to be taken in 2016.