The Australian Census will now include questions on both gender identity and sexuality after pressure from the LGBT community.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed the question would be part of the 2026 survey.
Government ministers had initially been reluctant to include such a question saying it was divisive.
The Census is a mandatory nationwide survey of the population every five years, with the next one due in 2026.
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Treasurer Chalmers said the government was working closely with the ABSâs âprofessional, and sensitive peopleâ on the question.
Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh said the questions would only be asked of people aged 16 and over and people would have the option not to answer.
Leigh said testing showed that high-quality data could not be collected due to the topicâs âtechnical complexity.â
âThe government will continue to work with the intersex community about ways of gathering information in other ABS surveys,â he said.
Concern Government Trying to Appease the Greens
In reaction to the governmentâs backflip, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said she disagreed with the decision.
âWhy put this in the Census, for what reason. The Census is there for the government to get the stats, where the money should be spent, what areas,â she said.
She said most Australians thought it was an âabsolute jokeâ and raised concerns that the government was just trying to appease the left-wing Greens.
Moderate Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg told ABC Insiders he would like to see questions on both sexuality and gender identity.
Labor Victorian Minister for Equality Harriet Shing also welcomed the governmentâs announcement.
âCollecting this data will support better service provision and improve outcomes for members of our communities whose existence has historically been under-recognised and underrepresented,â she claimed.
In contrast, Liberal Opposition leader Peter Dutton expressed concern about a âwoke agenda.â
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