Australia’s census, conducted on Tuesday, includes new optional questions on sexual orientation and whether respondents identify as a gender different from the one recorded at birth, according to reporting from multiple outlets.
The change is presented as the first opportunity for Australians to voluntarily disclose this information through the national census. Outlets describe the questions as optional rather than mandatory, allowing people to skip them if they choose. The move broadens the range of demographic data collected by Australia’s census, which is used to inform government planning and services.
While coverage focuses on the rollout of these additional questions, accounts primarily align on the key operational details: the census date, the specific topics added, and that the questions are optional. The reports do not indicate a requirement for all respondents to answer them, underscoring that participation is voluntary for these new categories.
