✓ The Conversation AustraliaPower & Policy
The next national count will ask something new
Australia's national census: people aged 16 and over can answer straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, a self-described term, or prefer not to answer.
Australian households. The new question appears in the 2026 census on August 11 and is optional for people 16 and over.
Researchers say it will let them study health across the whole population, not just people living with a same sex partner. The article cites earlier research linking same sex relationships with higher premature death risk.
The new data could help direct health services and funding more accurately.
Why it mattersAustralia's national census: better data can show where health gaps are biggest and help target support sooner. Without it, some groups stay invisible in planning.
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