Australia’s decision to exclude new questions about gender and sexual orientation from the next census sparked controversy, with LGBTQ citizens threatening to boycott the count. The government’s decision to scrap plans to gather data on sexual and gender identity in the 2026 survey was met with criticism, as many believed it would provide a more accurate representation of the population.
Finance Minister Jim Chalmers defended the decision, citing concerns about potential backlash and division in society. However, critics like lawmaker Alex Greenwich argued that not including these questions would be hurtful to LGBTQ individuals who have long been marginalized. The CEO of Equality Australia, Anna Brown, rejected the notion that census questions posed a threat to social cohesion, calling it “absurd.”