Same sex couples report marriage in census
 National   By // 08:45, Wednesday 30 September 2015

census logo screenshot

NATIONAL // DATA from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows a small number of same sex couples in the country identify as married.

First published in the 28 August 2015 edition of the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

The bureau created the new “Relationship as Reported for Couples” classification for data from the 2011 census to collect information on how many same sex couples occupying a dwelling identify as married.


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Before the 2011 census all same sex couples were classified as de facto parners.

A report from the ABS states the reasons for same sex couples identifying as married is unknown, but could be due to self determination or marriage in other jurisdictions.

Nationally 1,338 same sex couples identified as husband or wife while 32,377 reported as de facto partners.

In Victoria 403 same sex couples reported as married, while 8,319 reported de facto status.

A break down of the national figures shows male and female same sex couples were just as likely to report being husband or wife (675/661) as de facto (16,908/15,470).

Related: Same sex support – a pictorial petition

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