Review of 2021 Census Topics

A need to enable Australians to identify themselves as other than male or female and to do so in a way that does not marginalise this choice
Respect for people’s right to identify themselves as other than male/female is increasingly recognised, including by Council, which seeks to ensure that where information is collected, people are offered the option to self-identify.
We note that in the 2016 Census, people were able to request an alternative form where a response other than male or female could be added. However, the results of the Census show that only a small number of people did so. It may be that few people wished to, but the small number may also be related to the additional barrier posed by the extra step involved.
Council suggests that ‘Prefer to self-identify’ with space to specify should be added to the answer options for the Census question on sex/gender (noting that this question currently does not distinguish between sex and gender). The regular Census form should carry this option without a person having to request a special format.

Obtaining data on sex is fundamental to the purpose of the Census, underpinning population projections, estimations of life expectancy and family structure.
Council considers that capturing information on gender identification is similarly important, both for understanding the diversity of the community (for the purposes of health planning) and for enabling those persons who wish to do so, to self-identify, thus recognising this as both accepted and legitimate. While many people do not have any difficulty in making a binary selection (male/female), some do, and the Census form should accommodate this feature of the community.

Council considers that there is a need for whole of population data for similar reasons that sex data is collected from all individuals.

Council considers that accurate data collection is achievable. Sex and gender are two different things, but Council considers that adding a separate question on gender identification could cause confusion. It would be more effective to add an answer option to the existing sex question with the capacity for a person to specify.
While this option would not result in data that distinguishes between sex and gender, this is the case with the current question which is intended to capture information on biological sex but does not carry an explanation and can be answered by a person as referring to gender.
Responses to an amended sex question could be assisted by an explanatory note that provides examples of how a person may identify if they choose to select a third option.

Council notes that concerns for acceptability prevented a third option being added to the general Census form in 2016. However, we are of the view that the social context continues to change and stigmas continue to be challenged. We consider that allowing people who don’t readily see themselves as male or female to identify how they wish to in the general Census form would be an important step in furthering the breakdown of stigma and the acceptance of diversity.

Council considers that there would be minimal difficulty in efficient coding of the data that would arise from adding a third option. At a minimum, all ‘other’ type responses could be collated to provide an indication of the proportion of the population who do not (or prefer not to) identify in a binary way.

There is a continual need for information on the sex of the population. Council considers that adding a third option to the general form would not change this need but would instead enhance the data.

There are no other data sources that provide local area information on gender diversity, and none enable the same level of multivariate analysis that would allow comparison with education, employment and other variables.