Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is insisting his government has not changed its policy on questions for the next census, despite being forced to clean up a messy debate that erupted over how the nation's LGBTQI+ community would be counted in the next survey.
The government quietly confirmed on Monday it would not include expanded questions about gender identity and sexuality in the 2026 census, even though it formed part of Labor's national platform and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) had been tasked with considering the issue.
Anthony Albanese says the federal government is investing record amounts" in the Bruce Highway. (ABC News: Russel Tallbot)
After days of criticism from the LGBTQI+ community and members of Labor's own caucus, Mr Albanese backed down on that position in an interview with the ABC on Friday morning.
The prime minister was asked what had changed from Monday to Friday, given how the government had started and ended the week.
"Nothing has changed," he told reporters in Rockhampton on Saturday morning.
"We are consistent about having a commonsense approach to these issues.
"We want to make sure that everyone is valued, regardless of their gender, their race, their faith, their sexual orientation."
The episode has been messy for the government, and it is the second time in recent weeks that elected Labor members have spoken out against policy decisions.
The incident is fodder for the federal opposition, further fuelling its claims the government is out of touch with the community and is being distracted from major policy debates.
"This has been ham-fisted by the prime minister," Nationals leader David Littleproud said in Bunbury.
"The reality is, I'm open to any question that will advance the lives of Australians.
"If we need that data, then the question should be asked."
Mr Albanese also sought to downplay the significance of the debate in the community and his own party ranks, given the census is not due until 2026.
"It is two years away and we'll work with the ABS," he said.
"But I think that commonsense would see that asking about sexual orientation is a commonsense thing to do."
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has been undertaking testing on the wording of questions for some time.
It had to suspend such activities earlier this week in the wake of the federal government's policy pivot.
"There's already an identity question in the census. The ABS will work these things through," Mr Albanese said.
"You're talking about 2026 and it's 2024.
"My government's priority has been working through cost-of-living measures, that's been our focus, and we'll work with the ABS on those issues"