Independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon says he will refuse to include his name on his census form amid concerns about privacy and information being held on to for four years.

As millions of Australians prepare to give the bureau of statistics information about their homes, religion, and income in the five-yearly nationwide census tonight, Senator Xenophon says he is prepared to face any fines he incurs as a result of not properly filling out the form.

He will be joined by Greens senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Scott Ludlam in refusing to put down their names in the national poll.

The Australian Bureau of Statistic’s decision to retain the names and addresses collected in this year’s census for four years, instead of 18 months as was previously the case, has mounted criticism about security and privacy.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra on Monday, Senator Xenophon said he wants the law to be changed so that compulsion to provide an individual’s name is removed.

“I understand that, by refusing to provide my name, I will be given a notice under the act to comply and the $180-a-day fine starts from then,” he said.

“I will contest any such notice and, by doing so, I will in effect turn it into a test case for the ability of this request.”

– TiVi Tuan-san