Australia’s five-yearly census has introduced optional questions on sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time. Residents aged 16 and above can choose whether to disclose their identity, with options including straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual and nonbinary. The move follows public consultations and criticism after the government initially decided against including the questions.
Australians can, for the first time, disclose their sexual orientation and whether they identify as a gender different from the one recorded at birth as part of new optional questions in the country's five-yearly census.
The 66-question census, held on Tuesday, Aug 11, is the first conducted under a centre-left Labor Party government since 2011. The government had initially dropped the new questions two years ago, describing them as “divisive”, before reversing its decision following criticism.
Both questions are optional and are open to household members aged 16 and above.
Respondents can choose not to answer
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