A report published by the Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population, entitled Anglicans in Australia, reported that Anglicans were a declining proportion of the population. The report, which is one of a series examining religious traditions in Australia, also showed that those who attended Anglican Churches represent professional and business people rather than the generality of the population.

Anglican Church leaders welcomed the report. The Primate, Archbishop Keith Rayner, said that it drew attention to familiar material, but that "the challenges for the Anglican Church brought out in the report were real:"The three matters highlighted - fewer people in Church, the aging of congregations, and an English rather than an Australian identity are all matters of concern."

The Archbishop noted that attendance in Anglican churches has broadly kept pace with population growth, and that one in ten of those in church were newcomers. He also pointed out that in the past people would have called themselves Anglicans and may not have attended Church whereas today people who do not attend church are more likely to describe themselves has having no religion.