Budgetary pressure has forced the Australian Bureau of Statistics to abandon a review of questions for the next Census, which included calls to better identify the number of Australian gay and lesbian residents. 

The 2011 survey will ask the same questions used in 2006, said Population Census Branch head Paul Low.

“Mr Brian Pink, the Australian Statistician, recently highlighted to the government that the ABS budget situation for 2008-09 and beyond involved insufficient funds to sustain continuation of our current work program and provided us with no capacity to take on additional work,” Low wrote to Census clients.

The AIDS Council of New South Wales immediately wrote to Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan appealing for intervention.

“Unlike other minority groups in this country, there are very few alternative sources through which data on the gay and lesbian community can be collected. Where they do exist, the sample is usually limited both in size and in geographical dispersion,” Council president Mark Orr wrote.

“Access to comprehensive and accurate information is particularly important in relation to the development and delivery of policies and programs that can improve health and wellbeing.”

The ABS has said the information is of interest to the organization, while acknowledging some problems with collecting the data.

“How well the Census is able to assist in providing useful data is of interest to us,” said an ABS spokeswoman.

“We also understand some people will worry about privacy, such as not feeling comfortable revealing that information in smaller towns where the Census collector would be known to the person.”

Sydney Star Observer, www.sso.net.au

by HARLEY DENNETT