Australia's census in August triggered a series of false claims on social media and network television that the government had "removed Judaism" as a religion option, playing into the Jewish community's fear and anger following the antisemitic Bondi Beach shooting. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said the faith was not removed from the form, as it was not on the previous census -- and if residents do not see their religion, they can write it in under "Other".
"This is a revolting slap in the face to the Jewish people of Australia... The religion, Judaism, has been completely removed from the written choices in the Census," says a Facebook post shared on July 31, 2026, in a group containing content critical of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The post includes a picture of what appears to be a question on the census asking "What is the person's religion?" and providing 10 options, as well as "Other" so residents could write in their answer.
"The Jewish faith. REMOVED, ERASED. Are we still in Australia?" the Facebook post asks.
The claim circulated ahead of the country's nationwide census on August 11, which occurs every five years ( archived link).
It also comes months after a father-and-son duo opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in December. The mass shooting, Australia's deadliest in 30 years, sparked national conversations about antisemitism and widespread anger over the failure to shield Jewish Australians from harm ( archived link).
Claims...
EFF leader Julius Malema is facing yet another legal battle after the National Prosecuting Authority agreed to charge him with crimen injuria for falsely accusing a school principal of being a ser...