Why the census won’t ask about intersex variations, and the reason it should
After backlash from the LGBTQIA+ community, the government agreed to include gender and sexual orientation questions in the new census. So why not intersex?
The 2026 Australian census will not include a question about intersex variations, despite the government's recent pledge to count LGBTQI+ data. This omission leaves some in the LGBTQIA+ community invisible in the census results. Intersex status refers to individuals born with sex characteristics that don't fit typical medical definitions of male or female bodies.
The Australian government decided not to include intersex status due to concerns about the technical complexity of collecting data, despite the ABS estimating around 63,300 Australians with intersex variations. Without accurate data on this group, it's difficult to address their needs and experiences, impacting services like healthcare, education, and transportation.
Other countries, like New Zealand, have already included a separate question about intersex status in their censuses, suggesting Australia is lagging behind in terms of inclusivity. The decision to exclude intersex status aligns with the government's concerns about data quality, but critics argue that a mature nation shouldn't shy away from accurately representing its population.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
