00:00On message to clean up a mess of the government's making.
00:07LGBTIQ plus Australians matter and they will count in the 2026 Census.
00:12Counting after calculating the political impact of a decision to quietly pull questions on sexuality and gender from the next Census.
00:22Over concerns it was divisive, alienating allies and frustrating those within its own ranks.
00:30We had good intentions here and we've listened to the community and we've worked with the ABS.
00:35The next national survey will now ask Australians aged 16 and over about their sexual orientation and gender with the option not to answer.
00:45And on the back of advice from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it will exclude any questions about variations of people's sex characteristics.
00:54Initially seeking to appease anger, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said one question would be included.
01:01The Treasurer today clarifying it will be a whole topic with details to be determined at a later date.
01:08The ABS will work out the questions themselves, the government doesn't write the questions.
01:12This is a sensible and moral course of action. For the very first time in Australia, crucial data about some of the most vulnerable populations in this country will be collected.
01:23The decision fulfils a promise Labor made to the party faithful with the government also hoping it will put an end to the politically damaging saga.
01:32Our values around this have always been very clear, we seek to include everyone.
01:37We're in the middle of a cost of living crisis and I've now had a two week long internal debate about questions on the Census in two years time.
01:45In trying to avoid a culture war, the government unwittingly started one.
01:49And now with the Census issue seemingly resolved, Labor will use the return of Parliament this week to try to gain control of the agenda with a focus on the economy.
01:59It will also seek to win over the Coalition in its bid to overhaul funding of the aged care sector and create a federal environment watchdog, trying to break the deadlock to secure political wins.
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