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Questioning the mandatory census: Personal costs and privacy risks for marginalized communities

Published July 26, 2026 at 9:02 PM UTC

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While the 2026 Census aims to be progressive, making it mandatory places an unfair burden on people who stand to gain the most from being counted. For someone like April, forced participation means risking family relationships or personal safety by disclosing private information. The threat of fines adds financial stress, especially for low-income households. Privacy concerns are not trivial: census data, while anonymized, is stored for decades and can be accessed by courts under certain circumstances. Instead of a one-size-fits-all mandate, Australia could explore a voluntary census with targeted incentives, as done in some countries. This would reduce anxiety and still gather high-quality data if paired with strong public engagement. The ABS should focus on building trust, not on penalties. Without addressing the real-world costs to individuals like April, the promise of inclusivity rings hollow. The question is not whether to count everyone, but whether the method respects everyone’s circumstances.