Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirms new gender identity census question, China visit

A new question on gender identity will be included in the next census after ongoing pressure from LGBTIQ+ advocates forced the Federal Government to shift position for the second time in two weeks.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the decision in an interview on Sunday morning, during which he also confirmed plans to visit China later this month for crunch economic talks.

Dr Chalmers revealed falling Chinese demand for commodities could now cost the Federal Budget $4.5 billion — up from the $3 billion hit estimated just three weeks ago.

The Federal Government has endured a messy fortnight after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intervened to drop proposed questions on sexuality and gender identity from the 2026 census amid concerns it could trigger an ugly culture war.

An internal Labor revolt and pressure from LGBTIQ+ advocates prompted the first back down, with Mr Albanese on August 30 confirming a question on sexual orientation would be included.

Dr Chalmers completed the backflip on ABC’s Insiders program, confirming questions to capture transgender and gender-diverse Australians would form part of a new census topic that also covered sexuality.

Asked to explain the shift in position, the treasurer said: “We have listened to the community”.

Dr Chalmers, who is the minister ultimately responsible for the census, said “LGBTIQ+ Australians matter, they have been heard and they will count in the 2026 census”.

“We listened very genuinely. We said that we would find the best way to do this. And I believe that we have and we will.”

With the general topic now settled, Dr Chalmers said the Australian Bureau of Statistics — which runs the census — would work to refine the wording of the question.

In separate news to emerge from the interview, the treasurer confirmed he would travel to Beijing in the final week of September for talks with his Chinese counterparts.

The Federal Government is concerned about China’s economic slowdown, in particular, a property market slump has sent prices for iron ore — the key steel-making ingredient — tumbling.

Just last month Treasury was estimating the faster-than-forecast fall in iron ore prices could cost the Federal Budget around $3 billion over the forward estimates.

Speaking on Sunday, Dr Chalmers said that figure could reach $4.5 billion as demand for metallurgical coal also softened.

“This is a real sign of weakness in the global economy, uncertainty and volatility and risk in the global economy,” he said.

“And we’re not immune from it. Our economy is not immune from it, nor is our budget.”

Dr Chalmers will be the first Australian treasurer to visit China in seven years.