Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says plans for the Australian Bureau of Statistics to test a question on sexual preference for possible inclusion in the 2026 census is not a backflip on a backflip by his government.

Mr Albanese said the original decision to reject census questions on sexuality and gender had been taken after lengthy discussion at a recent cabinet meeting (main picture).

Speaking to reporters at his official residence The Lodge in Canberra this morning (below) the Prime Minister said the census consensus from that cabinet meeting was that the inclusion of the particular questions would make the government look “too woke”.

“While that cabinet meeting revealed overwhelming support for including the questions on the 2026 census form, there was also a view that we shouldn’t proceed with those particular questions,” he revealed.

“That view was put very forcefully by one of those sitting at the cabinet table. Of course cabinet secrecy prevents me from identifying that person.

“But now fresh information has come to light which means I have decided that the ABS should test the questions and if that is a success, they will be included on the census form in 2026.”

Mr Albanese denied that the original decision to reject the questions had represented a backflip on official Labor Party policy and that this morning’s announcement was another backflip.

The Prime Minister was asked if the two backflips on the census questions meant that his leadership was under threat.

“I can categorically say that no, my leadership is not under threat,” he said before asking: “Why? What have you heard?”

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