Peta Credlin criticized the Australian Bureau of Statistics for removing Judaism from the religious categories in the upcoming 2026 [1] Census.

The move is significant because official census data determines how the government tracks demographic shifts and allocates resources to community services. Removing a specific religious category can lead to an undercount or a loss of visibility for that group in national statistics.

Credlin, the host of the "News 24" program on Sky News Australia, expressed her disapproval during a recent broadcast. She said that the decision to omit Judaism from the list of religious categories implies that the Jewish community is not a priority for the national statistics agency.

"Having got my letter, I want to come back again to the issue of the Census and religion because I am still appalled that, as far as the ABS is concerned, Jews in Australia don't matter," Credlin said.

Credlin suggested that the exclusion of the category leads to a specific conclusion regarding the government's view of the community. She questioned the reasoning behind the change, noting that the removal effectively erases a distinct religious identity from the primary counting mechanism of the state.

"And I say that because what other conclusion can you draw after the Australian Bureau of Statistics removed them from the religious categories?" Credlin said.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is responsible for conducting the national Census, which provides a snapshot of the country's population and social characteristics. The 2026 [1] Census is intended to provide updated data on the diversity of the Australian population, including faith and ethnicity, to inform public policy.

Credlin said that removing the category will diminish the representation of Jewish Australians in official records, potentially impacting the ability to document the community's size and needs over time.

“I am still appalled that, as far as the ABS is concerned, Jews in Australia don't matter.”

The controversy highlights the tension between statistical standardization and the desire for granular demographic representation. When a government agency removes a specific category from a census, it can complicate the ability of advocacy groups to prove the need for targeted social services or cultural protections, as the official data may no longer distinguish those specific populations from broader groups.