Australia's Census Design Reveals How Question Format Shifts Religious Identity

An Essential Media poll tested two formats for Australia's 2026 census religion question. The existing list-based format yielded 43% selecting 'no religion'; a yes/no format produced 54%. That 11-point gap scales to roughly 2 million adults. The 2026 census will use the existing format, yet the poll exposes how institutional design shapes the demographic picture policymakers treat as objective fact.