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Count Us In

Our national Census should count every one of us, properly.

#CountUsIn

We still don’t know how many LGBTIQ+ people there are in Australia or where they live because the census failed to properly count LGBTIQ+ people in 2021.  

It was a wasted opportunity to gather crucial information about the kinds of services all our communities need. 

In September 2022, Equality Australia and non-binary parent and partner April Long (they/them) lodged a formal complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission alleging unlawful discrimination against their family and other LGBTIQ+ people. 

The complaint was privately conciliated and the Australian Bureau of Statistics issued a statement of regret and a raft of commitments in 2023.

We are a step closer to finally being counted properly in 2026!

Every one of us counts and should be recognised for who we are. 

Will you join the campaign calling on the ABS and Albanese Government to #CountUsIn2026?

Commitments made by the ABS include:

  1. The topics of sexual orientation, gender identity and variations of sex characteristics have been shortlisted on the basis they have recognised public value and will be tested prior to the Government making a decision on 2026 Census topics.  
  2. If ultimately included, the ABS will ask any questions on sexual orientation, gender identity and variations of sex characteristics separately so LGBTIQ+ subpopulations can be meaningfully identified.  
  3. An LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Committee will be established to advise on Census 2026, including topics, questions, educational materials, processing, analysis and dissemination of data.  The Minister will meet with this Committee.  
  4. The ABS will not include language that requires respondents of same-sex families to assign a notional ‘mother’ and ‘father’ when responding to questions, or which assumes the composition of families.  
  5. The ABS will not assume who can give birth if asking questions about the number of children born. 

Every one of us counts and should be recognised for who we are. 
Will you join the campaign, calling on the ABS and Albanese Government to #CountUsIn2026? 

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