Australian MP Bridget Archer Slams Government for Removing LGBTQ+ Questions from Census

Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer has voiced her frustration over the government’s recent decision to exclude questions on sexuality and gender identity from the 2026 census.

Speaking on ABC RN, Archer criticized the move, describing it as an unnecessary controversy created by the government.

“It’s quite frustrating, to be honest,” Archer said. “This should not be controversial in any way.

The government has manufactured a controversy where there was none.”

Archer, who has a history of crossing the floor on key issues during the Morrison government, argued that the inclusion of these questions was important and had already been promised by the government.

“The questions should be included as they said they would be. This really should be a non-issue, and we shouldn’t even be having this conversation,” she added.

She also rejected the notion that collecting data on sexuality and gender identity was part of a “woke agenda,” asserting that the purpose of these questions is purely informational.

“It’s just about gathering information,” Archer explained. “If you don’t collect that information, then you can’t use it.”