The federal government鈥檚 decision to exclude questions about gender, sexual orientation, and variations in sex characteristics from the 2026 Census has been met with widespread criticism from LGBTQIA+ advocates.
The announcement, has been labelled a betrayal by Equality Australia, which had been pushing for these inclusions to ensure the community is properly counted for the first time.
The 2026 census will not include the LGBTQIA+ community
In a shock announcement the Albanese government have today announced the 2026 census questions will not ask about gender, sexual orientation, and variations in sex characteristics again.
Peak bodies around the country have today expressed their outrage at the decision and its long term impacts on LGBTQIA+ Australians.
鈥淭he federal government has betrayed LGBTQIA+ people around Australia who will again be rendered invisible in 2026 because the census won鈥檛 ask appropriate questions about who they are and how they live,鈥� said Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia.
She expressed frustration that this decision would continue to make LGBTQIA+ communities feel invisible and demeaned, especially after the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) had included these topics in its proposed shortlist for the census.
This decision has been particularly devastating for those who had hoped the 2026 Census would correct the shortcomings of the 2021 Census, which failed to count LGBTQIA+ people who were single, trans, gender diverse, intersex, or living in same-sex relationships.
Despite a , acknowledging the distress caused by the omission, the federal government has opted not to proceed with the recommended changes.
Anna Brown highlighted the broader implications of this decision: 鈥淕overnments need reliable data to inform the delivery of vital services and make decisions about our future, and yet we still don鈥檛 know how many LGBTQIA+ people there are in Australia or where they live.鈥�
This sentiment was echoed by Mx April Long, a non-binary parent who had previously lodged a human rights complaint against the ABS. Long expressed deep disappointment, saying, 鈥淓very person and every family deserve to be counted. The 2021 census rendered us invisible, and today鈥檚 decision ensures that invisibility extends into 2026 and beyond.鈥�
The absence of these questions in the 2026 Census is seen by many as a missed opportunity to gather crucial data that could inform healthcare and social services for LGBTQIA+ people. Nicky Bath, CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA), condemned the decision, stating, 鈥淭his is a devastating and baffling decision that will retain the significant data gaps needed to address the pervasive health and wellbeing disparities that we continue to live with.鈥�
Dr. Morgan Carpenter, CEO of Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA), also criticised the government鈥檚 stance, warning, 鈥淲ithout meaningful inclusion in the 2026 Census, we won鈥檛 have good, reliable data on the health and circumstances of people with innate variations of sex characteristics. Worse than this, if the next census is the same as the last, it will collect data that is meaningless.鈥�
The decision marks a significant setback for the LGBTQIA+ community, with advocates warning of the long-term consequences for visibility, healthcare, and policy planning.
Rainbow Labor speak out
Convenors of Rainbow Labor NSW聽 have since spoken out about their party’s decision, saying they 鈥� share the disappointment of so many in our community”.
鈥淓xcluding LGBTIQ+ Australians from the national聽Census data is demeaning and alienating and enhances the feeling of otherness experienced by members of our community. This is an opportunity for the federal government to promote and celebrate the diversity of this country and the LGBTIQ+ community”, they told Star Observer in an exclusive statement.
This is so disappointing. I don’t think we should boycott. I think we should write in our own questions and answers. It’ll either void them or the ABS can say to the government look how many people need these questions.
Refuse to fill out the damn thing , don’t pay the fine , take it to court and express your outrage about being invisible and silenced
LGBTQI Australians, their friends, families and allies need to boycott the 2026 Census. As simple as that.
NOT HAPPY ALBO!!! NOT HAPPY AT ALL!!!
Yet we are supposed to answer that thing, honestly & truthfully when comes around like it does every 4 years or whatever. But it is already incorrect before the damn thing has been sent out to?!