In a significant policy reversal, the Australian government has confirmed that the 2026 national census will include questions on gender identity and sexual orientation. This move comes after a public backlash from the LGBTQ+ community when earlier plans to exclude these topics were announced. Treasurer Jim Chalmers emphasized that the LGBTQ+ community “will count” in the upcoming census, ensuring representation of diverse identities in official data collection.
The decision to reinstate these questions marks a victory for LGBTQ+ advocates, who had been working with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to include questions reflecting the realities of gender and sexual diversity. This also fulfills a promise made by the Labor government during their election campaign to ensure more inclusive data collection. Chalmers acknowledged that while the initial decision to exclude the topics had “good intentions,” the government’s new stance reflects their commitment to listening to marginalized communities.
The upcoming census will include two key questions: one addressing sexual orientation and another covering gender identity. These questions will be asked separately from the existing question on sex at birth, allowing individuals to express their current gender identity and sexual orientation without conflating the two. Importantly, Australians will also have the option to decline to answer, which preserves personal privacy.
The inclusion of these questions in the census is a notable step in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. Collecting accurate data on gender identity and sexual orientation will give lawmakers, social services, and health agencies the tools they need to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. It is a move that acknowledges the diversity of the population and the importance of making everyone visible in national statistics.
