For the first time, Australian’s 16 and older will be asked about their sexual orientation and gender in the census. It follows a backlash over an earlier decision to exclude such questions. The government’s hoping the move will repair the fallout from its handling of the issue as it tries to regain control of the political agenda ahead of Parliament’s return.
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00:00On message to clean up a mess of the government's making.
00:07LGBTIQ plus Australians matter and they will count in the 2026 Census.
00:12Counting after calculating the political impact of a decision to quietly pull questions on sexuality and gender from the next Census.
00:22Over concerns it was divisive, alienating allies and frustrating those within its own ranks.
00:30We had good intentions here and we've listened to the community and we've worked with the ABS.
00:35The next national survey will now ask Australians aged 16 and over about their sexual orientation and gender with the option not to answer.
00:45And on the back of advice from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it will exclude any questions about variations of people's sex characteristics.
00:54Initially seeking to appease anger, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said one question would be included.
01:01The Treasurer today clarifying it will be a whole topic with details to be determined at a later date.
01:08The ABS will work out the questions themselves, the government doesn't write the questions.
01:12This is a sensible and moral course of action. For the very first time in Australia, crucial data about some of the most vulnerable populations in this country will be collected.
01:23The decision fulfils a promise Labor made to the party faithful with the government also hoping it will put an end to the politically damaging saga.
01:32Our values around this have always been very clear, we seek to include everyone.
01:37We're in the middle of a cost of living crisis and I've now had a two week long internal debate about questions on the Census in two years time.
01:45In trying to avoid a culture war, the government unwittingly started one.
01:49And now with the Census issue seemingly resolved, Labor will use the return of Parliament this week to try to gain control of the agenda with a focus on the economy.
01:59It will also seek to win over the Coalition in its bid to overhaul funding of the aged care sector and create a federal environment watchdog, trying to break the deadlock to secure political wins.