The Australian Bureau of Statistics are not using the ethnic identity question in the 2026 Census.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) made the decision not to insert an ethnic identity question at the next Census. This is a big concern. 

Introduction

The ABS has reversed a decision to collect ethnicity data in the 2026 Census.

However, academics argue that ethnicity data would be more precise and could help address the gaps in health outcomes, for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

One health organisation has stated it is racist not to collect ethnic group data.

The chief executive of Victoria's peak Aboriginal advocacy health organisation said bluntly not collecting ethnic group data, specifically in health settings, is racist. Referring to ethnic group data, Ms. Gallagher states "I think it's racist if you don't [collect the data]."

Other western nations use a race and ethnic identity question.

“Demographers emphasise that it’s critical to use a method that enable the precise measurement of ethnic group size, collected in the Census. Because it often has an impact on how data is collected in both the public and private sectors.”

It is therefore highly questionable why the ABS have decided not to ask an ethnic identity question. The main reason they give for this is that their tests showed people had different interpretations of the term “ethnic identity.”

To suggest that the majority of the Australian population may not know their ethnic identity, appears a rather patronising statement from a government agency.

Other western nations such as Canada collect ethnic group data from their Census. The USA use a race and ethnicity question in their Census.

This provides critical information for policy makers. And provides demographers with valuable data to forecast a nation’s changing ethnic composition.

This also provides citizens with reliable demographic statistics to question the rapid ethnic transformation occurring in their country.

The ancestry question is unable to measure accurate ethnic group size.

Australian academics have differing views on the best way to measure ethnic and racial group size as a proportion of the total population.

The ABS ancestry question enables two responses by one person. Unfortunately, this makes it impossible to quantify the precise size of different ethnic group populations.

Take European Australians as an example: One Australian citizen is able to nominate two European ancestries to the ancestry question. So, this can clearly result in an over-count of the Anglo and European Australian population.

On the other hand, 29.9% of Census recipients nominated as Australian ancestry in 2021. But this ancestry sits within the Oceanian group category. Therefore, it’s possible a significant portion of those that nominated Australian ancestry are likely to be of Anglo-Celtic or European ancestry.

Clearly, this may result in an under-count of the Anglo and European population.

It’s little wonder the ABS decision not to include ethnic identity in the 2026 Census, has sparked a debate among experts and the public.

It’s very surprising that Australia's main data collection agency have argued against using an ethnic identity question. Their current method of only using the ancestry question is failing to produce reliable results.

Statistics are the basis for many decisions in government and business. If demographic statistics are unreliable then what's the point of a Census?

As an article from The Noticer points out, “Dr Frank Salter, an academic and researcher from Anglo-Celtic advocacy group the British Australian Community, told Noticer News that the ABS should be asking more questions on the topic, not fewer.”

“Ethnicity is a vital aspect of demography and identity. People who are descended from the same ancestors share a cultural and genetic kinship, factors that can be important for defending identity and shared interests.”

(Image source: The Noticer)

Notes

1. (Heading image source: ABC News)