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Australia 2026 Census to include new gender and sexual orientation questions
Australia is preparing for its 2026 Census, scheduled for August 11. The 66-question survey, conducted every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), will include new optional questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. The inclusion of these questions follows a policy shift by the Labor government after initial concerns regarding social cohesion.
In addition to the new identity questions, the Census will allow respondents to report up to four ancestries. The ABS has also addressed concerns regarding the religion question, clarifying that it measures religious affiliation rather than the frequency of religious practice. This follows campaigns by secular groups suggesting the question is biased.
Logistically, approximately 85% of Australians are expected to complete the Census online. The ABS is emphasizing cybersecurity following the 2016 online outage caused by DDoS attacks. Participation is compulsory, with potential fines for non-compliance or providing false information. Industry bodies, including the Design Institute of Australia and Creative Australia, are providing guidance to ensure professional sectors are accurately represented in the demographic data.
Entities
Anthony Albanese · Australia · Australian Bureau of Statistics · David Gruen · Richard Marles
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Australian Bureau of Statistics decides the wording of census questions. mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Labor Party government previously considered dropping the questions to avoid divisive debates. mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The latest census includes optional questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The gender and sexual orientation questions are optional for household members aged 16 and older. mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The census consists of 66 questions. mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · wtop.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Australian government determines the topics for each census. mymotherlode.com · srnnews.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · wtop.com