Mr Shoebridge, along with fellow Greens senators Scott Ludlam, Janet Rice, Sarah Hanson-Young, Lee Rhiannon and Larissa Waters, join crossbenchers Nick Xenophon and Jacqui Lambie in saying they refuse to give these personal details to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

“We support the cause and completing the Census,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“But I will not provide my name in order to feed the data base.

“The Census is an extraordinary 100-year-old tradition that’s been overwhelmingly supported by the Australian public.

“But it risks losing this community support … governments and companies already gather and harvest data - we don't want to aggravate or legitimise this process.

“The Census data is a respected. We need to draw a line in the sand.”

People who do not complete the survey could face a $180-a-day fine, however, Mr Shoebridge said if millions do not put their name down it would be hard to prosecute.

“Firstly it would be hard to prove,” he said.

“Also if a couple of million do not hand over this unnecessary information, effectively it would be impossible to enforce … but maybe the government would run a few high profile prosecutions.

“I am not going to change my mind though. It’s a matter of principle.”

Mr Shoebridge said the decision to switch from purely pen-and-paper to online was “a budget saving measure” and it posed problems.

“Firstly it skews the data - particularity elderly and low socioeconomic families that do not have access to quality internet,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“Plus there are real concerns over privacy and cyber security.

The Census information is used for a multiple of reasons, everything from determining funding levels for health and education services, to setting electoral boundaries.

The ABS’ compulsory survey keeps the personal details of Australians from 18 months to four years.

In response to the growing momentum by MPs to withhold their names from the survey, the Minister responsible for the Census, Small Business Minister Michael McCormack, said there were penalties in place for people who “wilfully obstruct” the Census and he urged all parliamentarians to “get on board”, citing the security measures in place.

“The ABS has an impeccable record when it comes to privacy and security,” he said.

“Courts can't access the information, ministers can't and indeed the Prime Minister can't.”

Despite Mr Cormack’s entreats​, Mr Shoebridge said he was not persuaded … that’s if he can lodge his details full stop.

“I tried to access the Census site at 9pm and 12 o’clock last night,” he said.

“And then 8am and 10am this morning (Wednesday) … but the government's grand IT system appears to be a fail.”