澳大利亚在8月11日进行的五年一次人口普查中首次纳入了关于性取向和性别认同的可选问卷[1]。这两个新增问题面向16岁及以上的家庭成员，答案完全可选[1]。性取向问题提供的选项包括直性、男同性恋或女同性恋、双性恋、不知道、不愿回答或自填其他术语[1]；性别认同问题则包括男、女、非二元性别、不愿回答或自填其他术语[1]。
这一决定的出台经历了政策反复。澳大利亚工党政府最初因担心引发分裂性辩论而搁置了这两个问题[1]，副总理理查德·马尔斯曾表示"我们不想现在在社区中开启分裂性的辩论"[1]。在LGBTQ+倡导者的强烈反对下，总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯在反对浪潮后两天改变立场，确认最终包含性取向问题[1]。澳大利亚统计局主任大卫·格鲁恩表示发现"大量人口对性别和性取向问题感兴趣"[1]。
截至周一已提交超过360万份表格，预计将完成1100万份[1]。在线回复率预计达85%，高于2021年的接近80%[1]。英国在2021年、新西兰在2023年、加拿大均已在各自的人口普查中提出类似问题[1]。
Australia conducted its five-yearly census on August 11, 2024, incorporating optional questions about sexual orientation and gender identity for the first time [1]. The additions marked a significant shift in data collection, despite initial controversy surrounding their inclusion.
The census questionnaire, consisting of 66 questions total, asked respondents aged 16 and older about sexual orientation with options including heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual, unsure, prefer not to answer, or a self-described term [1]. Gender identity questions offered categories of male, female, non-binary, prefer not to answer, or a self-described option [1]. Both questions were entirely voluntary for respondents.
The government's decision to include these questions came after initial hesitation. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated in August 2024 that "we don't want to open up a divisive debate in the community right now," but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reversed this position within two days following strong opposition from LGBTQ+ advocates [1]. The Australian Bureau of Statistics director David Gruen noted that the agency had identified "significant community interest" in questions about gender and sexual orientation [1].
By Monday of census week, more than 3.6 million forms had been submitted, with projections indicating that approximately 11 million responses would be completed [1]. Online response rates were expected to reach 85 percent, surpassing the nearly 80 percent achieved in 2021 [1]. Australia joined other countries in collecting such data, with similar questions included in Britain's 2021 census, New Zealand's 2023 census, and Canada's census conducted three months prior [1].