Wilson demands ‘corrective action’

Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson wrote to the government on the eve of census night accusing it of silencing Judaism in the census and calling for corrective action.

Census night was Tuesday, August 11.

Wilson, the Liberal member for Goldstein, wrote to Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh on Monday, saying residents had been shocked to discover Judaism was not among the religions listed on this year’s form.

Goldstein has the third largest Jewish community of any electorate in Australia.

A number of constituents had written to him about “the silencing of Judaism in the census”, he said in the letter, and had told him this was the first census in which they had intended to fill in their faith.