ABS considering changes to the religion question for the 2026 census!

[two dogs]

As a subscriber to the 2021 Census Mark 'No religion' campaign, yesterday evening, I received an email directing me to this page on their website:

https://censusnoreligion.org.au/census2 ... n-question

According to that page "The public has until Friday 8 September to provide feedback on this proposal"

[two dogs]

I dunno why the URL in the post above didn't result in an OG preview?

Here's what my OG BB Code on the old forums would have produced:

Census21.png (63.74 KiB) Viewed 2865 times

[two dogs]

Of course, after viewing the About Us page on that website, and noticing that the AFA's logo was the original one, I couldn't help but inform the AFA of that (and subsequently that the Wikipedia page was also out of date).

[Irrev-Black]

Of course, after viewing the About Us page on that website, and noticing that the AFA's logo was the original one, I couldn't help but inform the AFA of that (and subsequently that the Wikipedia page was also out of date).

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

[two dogs]

Of course, after viewing the About Us page on that website, and noticing that the AFA's logo was the original one, I couldn't help but inform the AFA of that (and subsequently that the Wikipedia page was also out of date).

A week later, and there have been no updates to either. It seems as if the AFA really doesn't give a shit about anything, apart from accepting membership fees in return for fuck all?

[Irrev-Black]

Meanwhile, organisations like Equality Australia are in communication on the ABS matter.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics, the government body responsible for the census, has just issued a statement of regret to our community.

It comes as they announce an expert committee to advise them on LGBTIQ+ inclusion for the next census – and we will be a part of it!

This is a very significant step towards inclusion that has only been possible thanks to this community.

Together, we took strategic legal action and had our voices heard by ministers and politicians to see LGBTIQ+ people finally shortlisted for inclusion in the next census.

In 2021 the census failed to count us and our families properly.

The ABS has now expressed regret for any distress caused to our communities, acknowledging the hurt and anguish experienced. April Long, a non-binary person who was made to feel invisible in the last census filed a human rights complaint against the ABS. The census kept asking for April’s son’s father. He has two mums.

This was upsetting for April when filling in their first census as a parent, and for rainbow families across the country who weren’t properly included.

April took the legal case alongside Equality Australia, while the public campaign ensured attention remained on the issue while the case progressed.

Just last week April, Equality Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics sat down around a table at a conciliation and settled the legal matter without having to go to court.

Now April, Equality Australia and representatives from across our communities will be included in conversations, specifically advising the ABS on how to best include our community moving forward.

This is an amazing step forward and the decision on whether LGBTIQ+ questions will be included will be made by government in 2025, after the ABS committed to test them.

ABS welcomes resolution of complaint
Media Release
Released
14/08/2023

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is looking forward to working with the LGBTIQ+ community on the 2026 Census, following the successful resolution of a complaint made to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in relation to the 2021 Census.

As part of the agreement reached today, the ABS has committed to the establishment of an expert advisory committee of representatives of LGBTIQ+ community organisations and other experts for the 2026 Census. The committee will provide advice on topics and questions for the 2026 Census; educational materials, and the processing, analysis and dissemination of data obtained in the 2026 Census.

The ABS is aware that some members of the LGBTIQ+ community felt invisible and excluded when completing the 2021 Census and has issued a statement of regret for any distress experienced.

Since the last Census, the ABS has taken steps to improve the collection of data about LGBTIQ+ Australians, including reviewing the ABS Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables in partnership with LGBTIQ+ community representatives.

The ABS recently published the outcomes of the first phase of public consultation on topics for the 2026 Census. The topics of sexual orientation, gender identity and variations of sex characteristics have been shortlisted for potential inclusion. The second phase of public consultation is open until 8 September 2023.

ABS’ recommendations on 2026 Census topics will be submitted to the Australian Government in 2024 for their decision.

https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/med ... -complaint