Census gender question under review by ABS

Australian Census respondents may no longer have two gender options when filling out the 2021 papers, with the “male or female” question under review as the ABS investigates a raft of changes. These are the other questions which could change.

Australian Statistician David Kalisch says the ABS has received more than 400 submissions in its review of the Census questions. Picture Kym Smith

One of the first and key questions on the Australian Census — whether respondents are male or female — is under review, as part of a range of changes being looked at by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The ABS told the Sunday Herald Sun it was considering changes to the standard responses of male and female, for the 2021 Census and would make recommendations to the federal government on the subject soon.

Non-binary sex and gender identity were among several topics under review, an ABS spokesman said.

“When it comes to Census data, the gender option in the 2016 Census was a ‘point in time’ with no option for a respondent to say whether they previously identified as a different gender,” he said.

Non-binary sex and gender identity has been a hot topic. Picture: iStock

“The ABS has been exploring changes to the standard responses of male and female for 2021 Census.”

The topics were being “tested”, and recommendations were expected to be made to the federal government in coming months, he said.

“We expect this will be finalised in early 2020 following tabling the regulations in parliament,” the ABS spokesman said.

“We will publish the outcomes of this in a publication later the same year.”

Other Census topics being reviewed include sexual orientation, Aboriginal identity, smoking status, past or current service in the Australian Defence Force, chronic health conditions and care of children.

Two questions that may be removed from the next Census are those inquiring about household internet access and the number of cars per household.

The ABS is required by law to run a Census every five years, and the information from the comprehensive, nationwide survey is used to shape the country’s service and infrastructures needs.

The Census has changed since its inception to reflect the times. In 1947 households were asked if they had running water and flushing toilets, and then in the 1960s if they had television sets.

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Discussing the review last year, Australian Statistician David Kalisch said public consultation on the range of topics to be included in the 2021 Census had taken place between April 3 and June 30 last year.

More than 400 submissions had been received from a range of sectors including government, academia, community and advocacy groups, industry bodies, businesses and individuals, he said.

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