Story perspectives

Australia Census Adds Optional LGBTQ+ Question After Delay

8/12/2026

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Albanese Confirms

Australia held its national census on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, using a 66-question form.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the sexual orientation question was included after earlier government hesitation.
ABS chief statistician David Gruen said consultations showed strong interest in gender and sexual-orientation questions.
The census remains compulsory under the Census and Statistics Act 1905.
Fact-check clarified one page asks questions about absent people, not the 21 pages claimed online.

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Australia Adds LGBTQ

Australia conducted its national census on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, using a 66-question form nationwide.
The census added optional sexual orientation and gender identity questions, a progressive step to count LGBTQ+ Australians more accurately.
Australian Bureau of Statistics consulted LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Committee to design new official items.
Equality Australia’s Heather Corkhill said the questions will fill gaps on LGBTQ+ health, housing, poverty.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. Census Bureau began counting same-sex households in 2005 and, after United States v. Windsor, recorded 668,497 married and 500,073 unmarried same-sex couples in the 2020 Census. Australia’s 2026 census will ask optional questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, extending the data-collection trend begun in the United States.

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Albanese Confirms

Australia held its national census on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, using a 66-question form.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the sexual orientation question was included after earlier government hesitation.
ABS chief statistician David Gruen said consultations showed strong interest in gender and sexual-orientation questions.
The census remains compulsory under the Census and Statistics Act 1905.
Fact-check clarified one page asks questions about absent people, not the 21 pages claimed online.

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