Census

On Sunday 25th August, it was announced that the Australian 2026 Census would have no additional questions added to it from previous years. After consultations with LGBTIQA+ community groups since approximately 2014, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) created The Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables, 2020 (“The 2020 Standard”) to standardise the collection and dissemination of data relating to sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation.

The 2020 Standard was not used in the 2021 census, and this led to ABS issuing a statement of regret in 2023 recognising the hurt and harm caused by failing to properly count our communities. Following this, the ABS recommended the government include the “2020 standard” into the 2026 Census. In 2023 the national conference of the Australia Labor Party resolved to repair this and committed to counting our communities properly in the 2026 Census. 

Unfortunately, despite repeated calls for this data from service providers, health entities, government departments, bureaucrats, businesses and academics, and the ALP’s previous commitments, there is a risk that the 2020 standard will not be included in the 2026 census. 

If the 2020 standard is not used, not only will the government miss a crucial opportunity to finally reflect the real diversity of the Australian community, but it will fail to gather the information necessary to inform its own planning, financial assessment, policy development and service delivery. 

The government cannot accurately plan health services and support programs for our communities when they do not understand where we live, what our jobs are, where we go to school or what our families look like. 

SARAA would like to acknowledge the work of LHA, EA and Vic Pride Lobby in working on this important work. SARAA has used components, adapted to suit the South Australia audience in creating this page.