2016 Australian Census

Catholics slipped into second place and Anglicans into third place after a mass religious exodus over the last five years.

In the last five years alone, the Anglicans have lost a whopping 3.8 percentage points and the Catholics have lost 2.7 percentage points.

The "No Religion" census grouping climbed 7.3 percentage points, to add to the 3.6 percentage points it gained at the previous census, to become the largest census group - without even considering the group "Religious affiliation Not stated or Inadequately described" which totaled 9.6% of the population. (One can only speculate how this group is made up but possibly they are either not bothered by religion or perhaps are too embarrassed to identify with it).

It is now very clear that the decline of religion in Australia has gathered pace. No doubt the scandalous child sexual abuse revelations in the Royal Commission have been an influence.

I hope our political leaders take note. Just compare the overwhelmingly powerful political clout of the second placed Catholics - and even the third placed Anglicans - with the almost non-existent political influence of the first placed "No Religion" group.