Australia census asks about sexual orientation, gender for first time

North America Politics Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:29:09 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

Woman logs onto the census website as her husband holds their daughter while their son plays behind them, in Sydney.
(Photo: AP)Australians aged 16 and over are being asked optional questions about their sexual orientation and gender for the first time in the country's census, after the Labor government reversed an earlier decision to exclude them.
The 66-question census, held on Tuesday, allows respondents to identify their sexual orientation as straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, don't know, prefer not to answer, or provide another term.

Woman logs onto the census website as her husband holds their daughter while their son plays behind them, in Sydney.
(Photo: AP)Australians aged 16 and over are being asked optional questions about their sexual orientation and gender for the first time in the country's census, after the Labor government reversed an earlier decision to exclude them.
The 66-question census, held on Tuesday, allows respondents to identify their sexual orientation as straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, don't know, prefer not to answer, or provide another term.

Sources: Times of India