Albanese should not be invited to LGBTIQA+ events after betrayal on Census and religious schools
Yesterday, it was revealed the Government has vetoed counting LGBTIQA+ people in the 2026 Census, breaking a pre-election promise.
The decision comes just weeks after the Government decided not to protect LGBTIQA+ staff and students in religious schools from discrimination, despite Labor also repeatedly promising this change, including before the 2022 election, and despite an Australian Law Reform Commission report recommending the reform.
The Census decision was revealed to the media before it was communicated to those LGBTIQA+ organisations that have been working on Census inclusion for many years.
Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“The decision not to include us in the Census shows that in this Government’s eyes, we don’t count.”
“Exclusion from the Census, plus the failure to protect LGBTIQA+ people from discrimination in religious schools, are deep betrayals of the trust of the LGBTIQA+ community.”
“Mr Albanese should not be invited to any LGBTIQA+ event or parade until he counts us in the Census and protects LGBTIQA+ teachers and students from discrimination.”
“The Government’s betrayal of our community will inevitably mean Federal Labor will lose yet more votes of LGBTIQA+ people at the next election.”
Mr Croome echoed concerns from other LGBTIQA+ groups about the impact of not counting LGBTIQA+ people in the Census.
“Federal and state government agencies, health and social service organisations, and businesses, are crying out for more data on the disadvantages faced by LGBTQA+ people, data the Government has now denied them.”
“Last year the Federal Government funded the development of a national LGBTIQA+ health strategy, but now it has hobbled its own initiative by vetoing its main data source.”
“Mr Albanese says he wants to promote social cohesion and prevent division, but by pushing LGBTIQA+ Australians back into the statistical closet he is doing exactly the opposite.”
Recent poll showing strong support for protecting LGBTIQA+ people from discrimination in religious schools and services: https://tinyurl.com/9vkwv3a4
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
