The 2026 Census question dividing households all over Australia

Out of 66 questions, one has sparked awkward debates in many Aussie homes.

Aimee Edwards
Sunrise
The 2024 Australian Census includes a question about unpaid domestic work that has sparked viral social media debates and household disagreements.

One Census question has divided the nation, with couples across the country debating who really does the most work around the home.

On Tuesday night, Aussie households all sat down to answer the same questions, but one has sparked the most debate.

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Australians were asked how much unpaid domestic work they do for their home, and the response has sparked viral videos and memes across the internet as couples strongly disagree about their answers.

One clip shows a man claiming he does “heaps” around the home, but his partner appears far from convinced.

But it isn’t just couples feeling the heat after the question.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli told Sunrise on Thursday the question also prompted an interesting exchange with her son.

“I have to tell you that I had a very interesting conversation with my son, who said that he did more than five hours,” she said.

“And when I said, ‘What do you do?’ He said, I unstacked the dishwasher. So now I have to question his maths ability as well, because that doesn’t add up to five hours.”

Sunrise host Nat Barr admitted she completed the Census while her husband was away, joking: “I just made sure I did more than him, but he doesn’t know that yet.”

The debate has prompted plenty of jokes online, but has the question exposed an uncomfortable truth in your household?

Originally published on Sunrise

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