Australia’s ‘most progressive’ census comes at personal cost to April – but.....

[Sarah B ✅]

Title: Australia's 'most progressive' census comes at personal cost to April – but it means their family will finally be counted
Link To: Article 🔗 [Link: theguardian.com/australia-​news/2026/jul/27/australias-​most-​progressive-​census-​comes-​at-​personal-​cost-​to-​april-​but-​it-​means-​their-​family-​will-​finally-​be-​counted-​ntwnfb/]
Author: Kat Wong
Date: Mon 27 Jul 2026 01.00 AEST
Trigger Warning: None
Brief summary of the article
The article reports that Australia's 2026 census will include questions on sexual orientation, sex recorded at birth and gender for the first time. It describes April Long's advocacy after the 2021 census did not adequately reflect their family, and explains that the new census questions are intended to provide better data for policy, services and research involving LGBTQ+ Australians.
Main Points of the Article
"At the census on 11 August, Australians over the age of 16 will be asked to identify their sexual orientation and given separate questions on their sex recorded at birth and gender for the first time."

"This is probably the most progressive census Australia has ever seen,"

"They alleged the ABS had unlawfully discriminated against Long, their family and other members of their community by failing to properly count LGBTQ+ people in the 2021 census."

"It came at a personal cost, but the alternative was we did nothing and hoped that something changed – history shows us that just doesn't work,"

"It's not perfect, we didn't get everything we wanted, but I think there's moments in history where change might seem small but is actually quite profound,"

"Without an accurate reflection of the nation by way of the census, we are essentially blindfolding ourselves to data and evidence."
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Allie Jayne @Petunia

[Lori Dee ✅]

I can see how those types of questions can be used by the government to allocate resources, adjust policies, and benefit the community.

I can see how those types of questions can be used by the government to track, harass, deport, and target the community.

Under this Administration, I will plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer those questions. Maybe in another ten years I will answer them, but not within the next five years.

Australia has better protections coded into its laws than we do.

[Sarah B ✅]

Hi Everyone

The 2026 Australian Census will ask people aged 16 and over about sex recorded at birth, gender identity and sexual orientation.  These responses are protected by the Census and Statistics Act 1905 and the Privacy Act 1988, which prevent identifiable information from being shared with government departments, courts or external organisations.

Names and addresses are stored separately from census responses.  Names are replaced with anonymous linkage keys then destroyed after 18 months, while addresses are destroyed after 36 months.  Census data is encrypted, stored in secure Australian data centres and protected by strict access controls, audit logging and independent security testing.

Unauthorised disclosure by current or former ABS staff is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to $25,200 or up to two years in prison.  Respondents may request a separate form for privacy or choose "prefer not to answer" for the new questions.  Published census results remain aggregated and anonymous so individuals and households cannot be identified.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Allie Jayne @Petunia @Lori Dee

[Lori Dee ✅]

That is good to know.
I trust Australia's government more than I trust my own.

😁

[Allie Jayne]

Trans people in Australia are protected against discrimination by a Federal Act, but in the end, it is just a law, and is currently being challenged by conservatives. While right now, the numbers are not there to change the Act, it would be foolish to believe that this could not change.

We need to be represented in the Census to improve all aspects of our lives, but our numbers will still be still be lower than they should be due to so many trans people who either fear discovery, or are not admitting to themselves they are trans. The number often bandied around is that we are 1% of the population, but our true numbers would be well above that.

Hugs,

Allie

[Petunia]

I do trust the censuses we have had in the past.

I donot trust our version of DT. I donot trust that parties financial backers.

I donot trust the right wing evangelical lobby that are starting to line up.

I'm not afraid of where we are now but I do worry about where we are headed.

Why is there so much focus on transgender issues and supposed affects of delayed puberty on a relatively small number of children?

Why aren't we so concerned about the obvious climate change the is affecting all parts of the world?

I feel that a lot of the money fueling the anti transgender push is also supporting anti climate change agendas.

Or maybe I'm becoming paranoid

[Lori Dee ✅]

It keeps everyone talking about everything except the Epstein Files.

🤣

[Petunia]

Yep, and it appeases the right wing evangelicals.

How can you have a rapist racist in charge of the world?