Count Us In
Our national Census should count every one of us, properly.
#CountUsIn
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?
Questions capturing sexual orientation and gender identity will be included in Census 2026! This is a tremendous win for the community.
In the 2021 Census, LGBTIQ+ people were left uncounted.
It was a wasted opportunity to gather crucial information about the kinds of services all our communities need.
After Equality Australia an April Long filed a complaint, The ABS issued a statement of regret in and committed to do better by our community in 2026. It meant LGBTIQ+ people had a seat at the table in developing the recommended questions.
But in 2024 the federal government announced that it would not proceed with new topics that would finally capture the true diversity of the Australian community.
With your help we responded quickly and effectively.
We engaged intensively with all levels of government calling for proper inclusion, and gathered over 25,00 signatures in support of a census that properly counts all of us in 2026.
Unfortunately, the government confirmed that intersex people, or people born with innate variations of sex characteristics, will not be counted in 2026.
Now, we will work through our membership of the ABS LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Group to ensure Intersex people are also counted in 2026.
Commitments made by the ABS include:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The ABS will not assume who can give birth if asking questions about the number of children born.
