Aus Federal Government Drops Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation from 2026 Census, Betraying LGBTQI+ Community
The move comes after the ABS issued a rare statement of regret and admitted the "growing requirement for data that adequately and accurately reflects trans people in Australia".
The Australian federal government has decided not to include questions on gender identity, sexual orientation, and variations of sex characteristics in the 2026 Census. This decision follows ABS releasing a rare statement of regret in 2023 for excluding non-binary and other LGBTQI+ individuals from being properly counted in the 2021 Census and collaborating with the community to enhance inclusion in future Censuses. This is all despite the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recognizing the increasing need for accurate data representing transgender individuals in Australia. However, today’s decision by the federal government will render those efforts futile.
Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia, expressed deep frustration, stating, “The federal government has betrayed LGBTIQ+ people around Australia who will again be rendered invisible in 2026 because the census won’t ask appropriate questions about who they are and how they live.”
However, one change will make it into the 2026 census: an updated Sex question. The question will be made clearer, asking, “What was [your/Person’s name/their] sex recorded at birth?” Male, Female, and Other (Please Specify) will be the options. This may improve the quality of data for intersex people; however, without adequate gender identity data, people may use the field to vent frustrations, which will lower the quality of the data.
The updated sex question was due to be paired with updated Gender Identity, Variation of Sex characteristics/Intersex, and sexual orientation questions, which would have improved the data quality significantly and allowed transgender and gender diverse people to be counted.
Without those new Gender Identity questions, transgender people will be entirely uncounted in the upcoming census — and intersex people will be poorly counted. This is because the “Cisgender and Trans and Gender Diverse Classification” developed by the ABS will not be able to be imputed from the data collected.
Abbie from Trans.Au shared the need for good data in provisioning services, "People want to be counted; we need to be counted. If you can count us, you can provide services and healthcare to us.” going on to further highlight gaps in transgender medical care across regional Australia, “I know someone who has to travel four hours to get healthcare.”
The exclusion of these critical questions is seen as a missed opportunity to gather essential data that could inform healthcare and social services for LGBTQI+ individuals. Without this data, advocates like Abbie warn that the community will continue to face significant barriers to accessing necessary services and support, particularly in rural and regional areas.