Census to get new topic on gender and sexuality

The 2026 Census is now set to include a whole new topic on sexuality, with questions on gender and orientation to be asked in the survey that seeks to get a snapshot of the nation’s demography.

But asking about intersex status has proved too hard for the government this time around.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has yet to determine the actual questions, but the recent furore over the federal government’s decision not to include LGBTIQ+ topics has ensured that specific questions on sexual identity will now be part of the census.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government had listened to the LGBTIQ+ community and had corrected its course on the issue.

“LGBTIQ+ Australians matter, they have been heard, and they will count in the 2026 Census,” Dr Chalmers told the ABC’s Insiders program.

“We had good intentions, and we listened to the community, and we worked with the ABS, and we said that we would find the best way through, and I believe that we have.

“The government’s role here is the topics. The ABS does the questions.

“They will continue to work in a professional and diligent and sensitive way with the community to make sure we get this right. I’m confident that we will.”

Following two weeks of heated debate about whether questions on sexuality would be included in the census, Labor has done a number of backflips before reaching this position.

After first saying new questions and topics would not be included in the 2026 survey of the Australian population, the government subsequently revealed that one question was being tested by the ABS.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suggested there might be a sexual orientation question included, but the LGBTIQ+ community said one question wasn’t good enough.

What incensed the community most was that including LGBTIQ+ questions in the census was part of Labor’s national platform.

The latest about-face is that a new topic with multiple questions will be included, the first time sexual orientation will be canvassed in an Australian Census.

Only those aged 16 and older will be asked sexual orientation questions and they will have the option to not answer those questions.

However, the government had determined that questions on transitioning Australians were too complex to include in the census without further consultation with the LGBTIQ+ community.

In a statement issued on Sunday (8 September), Assistant Minister for Treasury Andrew Leigh sought to clarify exactly what would and wouldn’t be in the survey about sexuality.

“The Albanese Government is setting a new topic of ‘sexual orientation and gender’ for inclusion in the 2026 Census,” Dr Leigh said.

“This will allow the Australian Bureau of Statistics to ask questions on sexual orientation and gender for the first time, in keeping with their recommendation to government. These questions will only be asked of people aged 16 and over, and the ABS has told the government that people will have the option not to answer.

“The new topic reflects consultation with the ABS’s LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Committee, including key peak bodies in the sector.

“The ABS did not recommend a topic on variations of sex characteristics (intersex status) in the census, and it will not be included.

“Although this topic was considered by the ABS, testing indicated high-quality data could not be collected due to the technical complexity of the subject.

“The government will continue to work with the intersex community about ways of gathering information in other ABS surveys.

“We value every Australian, regardless of their faith, race, gender or LGBTIQ+ status. The government’s position follows further engagement with the community and additional discussions with the ABS.

“The government will make a legislative instrument to implement these changes and will introduce this instrument before the end of the year.”

Equality Australia welcomed the decision to include the sexuality and gender topic, saying the parliament should pass the legislation.

“It’s now time to let the ABS get on with doing its job and proceed with the planned testing so we can finally count Australians in 2026, including people who are trans and gender diverse as well as gay and bisexual,” chief executive officer Anna Brown said.

“The census has told the national story of our changing community since 1911, but it has not once included the full story of LGBTIQ+ Australia,” she said.

“Service providers, health entities, government departments and businesses rely on the census for baseline population data.

“They need a complete picture of who we are as a nation, including where LGBTIQ+ people live, what our jobs are, our health issues, where we go to school and what our families look like.”

Ms Brown said she hoped a new topic covering people with innate variations of sex characteristics would be included in a future census.

“It is vital that data is collected on people with variations in sex characteristics, and the work must continue in partnership with intersex organisations to ensure they are counted as accurately as possible,” she said.