LGBTQ
Exclusive
Discrimination
Labor’s promised hate speech bill will not deal with ‘hate speech’
Albanese pledged to protect Australians from hate speech. Sources familiar with the legislation said it had been weakened in the final stages.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Latest
Census to ask about gender identity after second government backdown
The next census will count transgender Australians for the first time, following weeks of LGBT community backlash and an internal Labor revolt.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
The life-saving drug in short supply across Sydney
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has become crucial in the fight against HIV, but pharmacies across Australia are fast running out. Here’s what you need to know.
- by Angus Thomson and Ben Grubb
Exclusive
Political leadership
Frustrated Albanese vents in cabinet over census fiasco
The prime minister told his ministers he had to step in to “clean it up” after he saw the complicated questions the census planned to ask.
- by James Massola
‘I can’t help it if I am this way’: The trans sprinter dragged into Paralympics gender war
No Paralympic athlete has faced as much international scrutiny at the Paris Games as the 51-year-old vision-impaired sprinter.
- by Sophie Aubrey
Opinion
Census
Should we care if nosy data wonks ask about our sexuality?
It’s a shame there was no sensible public debate about the census changes because there are sensible views on both sides.
- by Jacqueline Maley
Albanese hits back at suggestion he is limiting scope of census on LGBT Australians
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remains under pressure for not including questions in the census on trans and intersex Australians.
- by Olivia Ireland
Inside story
Political leadership
How the PM’s captain’s call to stop a culture war blew up in his face
An early Sunday morning message to Labor MPs about a gender and sexuality question in the 2026 census opened up a disastrous political week for the government.
- by Paul Sakkal and James Massola
Analysis
Political leadership
Dutton is landing punches on a rattled Labor, and voters are noticing
Labor is ramping up its attack on the opposition leader as too divisive to lead Australia, but the signs are that voters aren’t buying the government’s message.
- by James Massola
Updated
Census
PM backflips on census sexuality question, under fire for trans exclusion
While the census will now have a question about sexual preference, Albanese maintained the decision to exclude questions about gender.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos and Olivia Ireland
Opinion
Political leadership
Labor’s bizarre census backflip reveals great data about this weak government
It’s funny how it’s always LGBTQ issues that have to be sacrificed to maintain the peace.
- by Michael Koziol