Flawed official narrative on indigenous population growth

While the effects of ethnic inter-marriage on Indigenous population growth is under-acknowledged, issues of shortcomings in the Census question itself are almost completely ignored in the official narrative.

The key requirement of a Census or survey question on Indigenous status is to identify respondents who meet the officially set requirements for Aboriginality. The Census question thus needs to ascertain whether respondents (a) are of Indigenous descent and (b) also identify as Indigenous. It is generally recognised that household questionnaires are unsuitable for verifying a third official requirement, which is that respondents' Indigenous status is accepted by the community in which they live.

Let's now consider whether the Census question addresses these requirements for official recognition as Indigenous.

The original (post-1967 Referendum) Census question (asked in the 1971 and 1976 censuses) was:

What is this person's racial origin?
(If of mixed origin indicate the one to which he considers himself to belong)

(Tick one box or give one origin only)

European Origin
Aboriginal Origin
Torres Strait Islander Origin
Other Origin

The inclusion in the 1971 and 1976 censuses of the direction "if of mixed origin indicate the one to which he considers himself to belong" clearly was an attempt to measure racial/ethnic identification, though respondents were only allowed to identify with one origin. By ticking either the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin box, respondents were indicating a clear preference for Indigenous identity over any alternative origin, with "European" or "Other" being explicit stated alternatives.

The Census question was changed in many subsequent censuses. The current Indigenous Origin question used from 1996 onwards has now become:

Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
For persons of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin mark both 'Yes' boxes
No
Yes, Aboriginal
Yes, Torres Strait Islander

What is striking is that respondents are now only asked whether they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin. The question does not ask about any other origin or whether, if they are of more than one origin, which one do they regard as their main identity. Respondents may now acknowledge more than one ethnic identity but the only such multiple identity allowed for is joint Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin. Dual Aboriginal and European identity (potentially far more common) is not a tick box option.

Not asking explicitly about identity seems a serious omission, given that our Indigenous population (in vast majority) is now of mixed ethnic origins and subject to increasing influence from out-marriage . A literal interpretation of the Census question asked since 1996 would suggest that Indigenous origin by itself could potentially get a tick from everyone who can trace any Indigenous origin regardless of their self-identity or community acceptance.