Diversity Council Australia (DCA) is deeply disappointed by the federal government’s decision to exclude questions on LGBTIQ+ people in the 2026 census.
As Australia’s peak body on workplace diversity and inclusion, we have been actively working with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the government to advocate for improved data collection on a number of diverse populations. The available evidence, including our own research, makes it clear that to effectively address workplace exclusion, harassment, and discrimination, we need better data on these diverse groups. DCA, alongside Equality Australia, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and many other organisations and advocates, calls on the federal government to reverse this decision.
The potential benefits of gathering data on LGBTIQ+ populations in Australia are significant, while the negative consequences of “quietly dumping” LGBTIQ+ people “back into the statistical closet” are extremely concerning.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia point to the significant health and wellbeing impacts of collecting this data. Research highlights the many risks facing young LGBTQA+ young people, and trans and gender diverse people in particular. These relate to their health and wellbeing, suicide risk, homelessness, and domestic and family violence. These are serious issues that go beyond “first-world concerns”, as one member of the coalition has suggested.
DCA’s focus is on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, and we know from existing data that many LGBTIQ+ employees still do not feel safe enough to be out at work. Data from DCA’s latest Inclusion@work Index reveals they also experience significantly higher levels of discrimination and/or harassment at work. Additionally, LGBTIQ+ people who are also First Nations, have a non-Christian background or have a disability, experience compounded marginalisation.
The rationale provided by government to-date is inadequate. Blaming the LGBTIQ+ community for causing divisive debate equates to victim blaming. The divisiveness is not caused by the community rendered invisible by the government’s decision to exclude them from data collection. The census is not just a data collection exercise in its own right – the data is used to provide rationale for funding significant health and wellbeing policy and programs, including workplace inclusion.
Some advocates are calling for LGBTIQ+ people to boycott the 2026 census. This would significantly impact on our understanding of population groups in this country. DCA calls on the federal government to reconsider its decision and continue the work being done to formulate and test LGBTIQ+ population questions for addition into the 2026 census.