Jan 6
Australia's 2026 Census to Count LGBTQIA+ Identities for First Time After Policy Reversal
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
For the first time in its 115-year history, Australia's national census will ask respondents aged 16 and over about their sexual orientation and gender identity when it occurs on August 11, 2026. Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced this on September 28, 2024, confirming that gender and sexuality will form one new category in the census, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics now drafting the specific questions. Chalmers addressed LGBTQIA+ Australians directly, stating, “You matter, you have been heard and you will be counted.”
The questions are voluntary and include a "prefer not to answer" option. The sexual orientation question will offer tick-box options such as straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, and space to specify another term. The gender question will sit alongside the existing "sex recorded at birth" question, allowing respondents to report their current gender identity through tick-boxes or self-description, recognizing that gender encompasses social and cultural identity, expression, and lived experience, which may differ from sex characteristics observed at birth. Responses will enable data on transgender and gender diverse populations.
The path to inclusion was not straightforward. The 2021 census drew criticism for excluding questions on gender and sexual identity, prompting the ABS to issue a statement of regret in 2023 for failing to consult with or count LGBTQIA+ people adequately, leaving the community feeling "invisible and excluded." A subsequent ABS review in December 2023 shortlisted potential new topics for 2026, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex characteristics.
In August 2024, the Albanese government initially scrapped these proposals, retaining the 2021 topics despite prior election promises, a move frontbenchers described as avoiding "divisive debates." This sparked significant backlash from LGBTQIA+ advocates, community organizations, and tens of thousands of petition signatories. Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Dr. Anna Cody, condemned the decision, warning it would have “serious implications for the health, wellbeing and general equality of LGBTIQA+ Australians and their families.” Activists called for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be banned from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Facing pressure, the government reversed course. Chalmers described the reinstatement as “the sensible, pragmatic and moral course of action.” The ABS had refined questions based on extensive testing with diverse population groups, informed by an LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Committee and experiences from other countries.
LGBTQIA+ leaders hailed the change as a major victory. Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown stated, “We still know so little about LGBTQ+ Australia because the 2021 Census failed to meaningfully count people of diverse sexualities and genders, and our families. Hundreds of thousands of people have been rendered invisible or misrepresented in national data sets.” She emphasized that accurate census data is crucial for funding services, noting needs like mental health support for young people in these communities.
The South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance celebrated the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity questions but raised concerns that intersex people, or those born with innate variations of sex characteristics, will not be specifically counted, despite earlier shortlisting. Equality Australia echoed past ABS commitments to test such questions separately for meaningful identification of LGBTIQ+ subpopulations if included.
Australia joins a growing list of nations collecting this data. The United Kingdom included voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in its 2021 census, Scotland in 2022, and New Zealand in its 2023 census for those aged 15 and over, aiming to inform services for the rainbow community.
Proponents argue the data will reveal where LGBTQIA+ adults live, their employment, health, education, and family structures, enabling targeted policies. Brown added, “In 2027, we will finally have a more complete picture of who we are as a nation, including where LGBTQ+ adults live, what our jobs are, our health issues, where we go to school and what our families look like.” The ABS anticipates this will enhance inclusivity in existing questions and support health and social programs.
While variations in sex characteristics were not ultimately included, the census updates represent progress toward visibility for transgender people, gender diverse individuals, and those with diverse sexual orientations. Participation is key: households will receive online instructions, and one person typically completes the form for all present, ensuring accurate representation.
