Review of 2021 Census Topics

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In understanding sex and gender, the City of Casey recommends that the 2021 Census include 3 questions regarding:
- Sex as biological characteristics – male, female, intersex
- Gender as self-identifying characteristics – male, female, don’t identify as either, transgender, gender diverse
- Sexual identity/sexual orientation/romantic attraction – heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual or other

The identification of sex or gender is consistent with discussion raised by the ABS as part of this consultation and the City of Casey agrees with this.

The Census has been increasingly used to understand same-sex relationships and sexual orientation, particularly in the lead up to, and introduction of, the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017. However, the current use of data is restricted to understanding same-sex couples who live in a de facto or married relationship and limits the capacity to understanding broader communities in this space.

The City of Casey considers it timely to expand questions relating to sex and gender to demonstrate respect and recognition for how people describe their own genders and relationships through the use of inclusive language throughout the Census questionnaire; and to assist the planning for and delivery of programs and services to meet community needs.

In addition, the City of Casey recommends that the remainder of Census questions are reviewed with this level of inclusiveness in mind. For example, within the Cultural Diversity topic, questions regarding the birthplace of the person’s mother and father should be amended to parent 1, parent 2, etc.

To assist the City of Casey’s understanding of this topic, reference has been made to the Child Family Community Australia LGBTIQ+ communities glossary of terms Resource Sheet, available through the Australian Institute of Family Studies website.

Collecting a more robust set of data on sex and gender is relevant in supporting the planning and delivery of targeted programs and services, particularly those who are ostracised due to their sex and/or gender.

By combining newly collected data on sex and gender with other characteristics collected in the census, a more holistic picture on national equality can be understood particularly regarding socio-economic status (SEIFA), education, employment, occupation and income.

By asking three separate questions on sex (biological), gender (self-identifying) and sexual identity/sexual orientation/romantic attraction and adding the relevant options, it will make clear exactly what data each question aims to collect.

While it is likely that inclusive questions around sex and gender are likely to be controversial in some households, recent changes to the definition of marriage provide a window of opportunity to openly discuss and contemporise how people identify. 61.6% of people said yes allow same-sex couples to marry; most Australians are therefore also likely to welcome more inclusive questions on sex, gender and relationships.

Similar to male and female data collection in the past, projections, life expectancy, family structure and comparisons are likely to be key outputs of collecting data on both sex and gender.

Collecting this data on all future Census questionnaires can assist in understanding how and where equality amongst different sexes and genders is changing.

Current data on gender does not recognise gender to be inclusive of anything other than men and women and sex as male and female.