Census 2016: Labor urges all Australians to include their names

Shadow assistant treasurer criticises Nick Xenophon and Greens senators for refusing to fill in census fully saying that could 'imperil quality of data'

Labor has called on Australians not to spoil the census, slapping down a growing revolt led by minor parties to withhold names when filling it out.

But the shadow assistant treasurer, Andrew Leigh, criticised the federal government for failing to explain changes to hold name and address information for four years, up from 18 months, after two Greens senators joined the push to withhold their names.