Australian Census: For the first time, citizens will be asked about their sexuality in Australia’s census. The government said on Friday (August 30) that this policy change is aimed at calming the anger of the LGBTQ community. Supporters said that questions about sexual identity will give a more accurate picture of Australians’ identity and who they love.
According to the AFP report, Australian government ministers clarified that the change in the census has been canceled to avoid divisive debate. A day after this, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that a question about gender will be included in the 2026 survey.
There is a fine for not taking the census in Australia
He said the Australian Bureau of Statistics has added a new question about sexual orientation, which will be tested before being included in the survey. Albanese told the ABC, “We believe this is the normal situation.” The Prime Minister said that but people will have the option to answer or not answer the question of sexual orientation. Completing the census is mandatory in Australia, failing which a fine is imposed.
PM Albanese made this gesture
Asked why the government had backed down, Albanese said: “No, this is the first time I’ve been asked about this.” He made no mention of plans to include questions about gender identity, however, saying only that there would be no “major changes” to the census.
Brown said including LGBTQ people in the census would bring Australia into line with other countries that already do so, including Britain, Canada and New Zealand. “It would be a shame if the government didn’t trust the Australian public enough to accept that the census needs to collect basic data about our country in order for it to be meaningful and useful,” he said.
