Labor says sexuality questions dumped from census to avoid ‘divisive’ debates

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade participants last year. The federal government’s rejection of proposed extra census questions on sexuality blindsided LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and prompted complaints. Photograph: Roni Bintang/Getty Images

The acting prime minister, Richard Marles, says the government decided not to add questions on sexuality to the 2026 census to avoid “divisive” community debates.

Marles said the government had opted to take the existing set of questions to the next census rather than adding five new topics – including sexuality – as had been proposed, out of concern for social cohesion.