NSW state MP Alex Greenwich,a prominent gay politician and leader of the 2017 marriage equality campaign,said:“If the PM and government continue with their decision,they can expect LGBTQ people and our families won’t participate in the process.
Independent NSW MP Alex Greenwich.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
“If by default we are counted as straight,that’s deeply hurtful to a part of the population who for many years have been forced into the closet.”
Teal independent MPs and Victorian Labor joined the demands for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to reverse his government’s call to leave the census unchanged,in the same week as Labor ups itsattacks on Peter Dutton for allegedly creating division in the community.
Thismasthead reported on Monday that the decision had upset some federal Labor MPs because the party’s policy platform commits it to adding gender and sexuality questions. Government ministers had spoken in positive terms about the proposed changes being examined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics before the government decided against making them.
On Sunday,Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh ruled out the introduction of new census topics,despite the Australian Bureau of Statistics apologising last year for the “hurt,stress,and anguish” caused by the exclusion of questions on sexuality.
Several Labor MPs,who requested anonymity to speak freely,said on Monday Labor had backed away from the change to avoid a potential culture war led by faith groups or the Coalition.
The ABS was due to host a briefing for journalists on Monday to discuss tests it had conducted on new questions. But on Sunday evening,the ABS sent an email stating:“Following the government’s decision on topics for the 2026 census,the briefing has been cancelled.”
A government source said on Monday officials were worried that making the census more complicated could compromise its quality,and noted that other unrelated questions had also been ruled out of the 2026 survey.
Shadow assistant treasurer Luke Howarth,whose portfolio includes responsibility for the ABS,said debate over the census questions was a “first-world problem” when asked for the Coalition’s position.
“[It] has not been discussed in my electorate. People are battling with cost of living,homelessness issues and housing,” he said.
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Independent MP Allegra Spender,who has a large LGBTQ community in her Sydney seat,said Leigh had written to her earlier this year to say the questions had “strong public value” and should be tested before the next census.
“Suddenly,the government has pulled the plug and given absolutely no explanation,which is,frankly,insulting to the people that this matters to,” she said on ABC Radio National.
Prominent gay campaigner Rodney Croome said on Monday Albanese should not be invited to next year’s Mardi Gras parade despite being the first sitting prime minister to march at the event in 2023.