ABS urges Australians to ignore online campaigns and answer census religion question

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has urged Australians to ignore online campaigns pressuring census responses, emphasizing the religion question must be answered accurately. Religious groups back the “be counted” campaign; the secular lobby urges “no religion.” The ABS says affiliation differs from practice, and answering is optional. The census has asked religion since 1911; in 2021, 42% reported none. A false claim that Judaism was removed is circulating. Past campaigns included urging “Jedi” responses.