Now Reading: Australia adds optional sex, gender questions to census for first time
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Australia adds optional sex, gender questions to census for first time
Australia adds optional sex, gender questions to census for first time
Australia’s five-yearly census now asks optional questions on sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time. The 66-question survey, conducted August 11, 2026, allows residents 16 or older to choose from…
The Story in Brief
Australia’s five-yearly census now asks optional questions on sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time. The 66-question survey, conducted August 11, 2026, allows residents 16 or older to choose from options including straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, or write in their own term. The Labor government reversed its 2024 decision to drop the questions, which Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles had called “divisive,” after backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates and Labor lawmakers.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics expects 85 per cent of responses online, up from nearly 80 per cent in 2021. More than 3.6 million forms had been submitted by Monday. Britain, New Zealand, and Canada have already included similar census questions. The Hindu reports that failing to complete the census can incur a fine of up to 364 Australian dollars per day.
The Indian Opinion
LGBTQ+ advocates claim inclusion is long overdue while conservative critics warn of social division. This census will test whether optional questions on sensitive topics actually undermine cohesion or simply reflect changing demographics. The real question: will the data help or harm the public debate? The ABS expects 11 million forms; the response rate and non-answer rate will be the numbers to watch.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
