Australia prepares for 2026 Census on August 11

The Australian Bureau of Statistics will conduct the 2026 Census on Tuesday, 11 August. Completion is compulsory; households that fail to respond can be fined up to A$330 per day. Most people will submit their forms online, but paper questionnaires will still be delivered on request, with Braille versions and assistance for blind, low‑vision or homeless residents.

New questions this round include a standalone query on gender and sexual orientation for respondents aged 16 and over, an expanded ancestry question allowing up to four ancestries, and an added health item on liver disease. Census data underpins population estimates, funding allocations, electoral boundary setting, and planning for schools, health services, transport and infrastructure. The ABS has set up a Contact Centre and will deploy about 30,000 engagement and field staff to help households complete the survey.