Census or Stocktake?

Just a theory, no evidence to back it up, a hypothetical if you wish. The census recently done/being undertaken, is a fresh stocktake on numbers as we head into this catastrophe created by BP.
Iam in Oz,but can anyone tell me if the census was on time? Had it been brought forward at all,we have em every few years here what about you guys?
If evacuations are to take place they pretty much know exactly how many heads to move, that wont be before they let a heap of people die,to many to fit into the camps at the moment.
Just putting it out there,hope iam in the right forum.

I guess it is possible.