An LGBTQI activist has called for Anthony Albanese to be banned from attending Sydney Mardi Gras after his government broke a promise over the upcoming census.
Following the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) decision not to record the number of gay and trans people in the 2026 census, a policy promise by the Labor Party, a prominent activist says the Prime Minister should be ousted.
Just.Equal spokesman Rodney Croome said that although Albanese was the first prime minister to march in the iconic event last year, he should not be invited to next year’s gay Mardi Gras or any future ones.
“He may have crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge last year for WorldPride, but in the eyes of many LGBTIQA+ Australians he has now raised the drawbridge to equality,” Croome told the The Sydney Morning Herald.
Federal Assistant Competition Minister Andrew Leigh confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that no new topics would be covered in the upcoming census.
“While the Australian Bureau of Statistics tests changes from time to time, it is the government’s decision that there will be no changes to the issues in the next census, due to take place in 2026,” a spokesman for the minister said.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that three unnamed Labor MPs “were upset by the decision” not to include questions in the 2026 survey to capture the number of LGBTQI Australians.
The publication cited unnamed Labour sources who gave different reasons for the removal.
Anthony Albanese to be banned from Sydney Gay and Lesbian Carnival over controversial census decision
Two unnamed Labor MPs said the government feared a backlash from the Coalition and religious groups because any changes to the census would have to be approved by the Senate.
Another anonymous MP said there may have been concerns. The LGBTQ community would be underestimated because they would prefer to keep their sexuality totally private.
However, another ‘A government source said the decision was taken to show Albanese was “fully focused” on cost of living pressures and to avoid distractions with “non-core” minority issues.
The source also said officials were concerned about making the census more complicated and that other questions had also been removed to keep it simplified.
Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown accused the government of abandoning a marginalised group.
“The federal government has betrayed LGBTIQ+ people across Australia, who will be rendered invisible again in 2026,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“This opportunity to finally reflect Australia’s diversity and gather crucial information about the types of services people need has not been taken.”
Following the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) decision not to record the number of gay and trans people in the national census, which is a political promise of the Labor Party, a prominent activist says the Prime Minister should be dismissed
A prominent gay rights activist has called for the Prime Minister to be banned from attending Gay Mardi Gras over an apparent change of heart on the census (pictured, a participant in the 2024 march)
April Long, who filed the complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission, said the result was devastating.
“This is not just about numbers or data, this is about our basic human right to be counted, recognised and valued,” they said.
Around one in ten Australians are believed to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or gender diverse, according to a 2019 Department of Health report.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Prime Minister and the ABS for comment.