* No official census tracks language use in detail. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) records the languages spoken at home, but it doesn't specifically break down Mandarin, Cantonese, and other Chinese dialects.
* Language use is dynamic. People's language abilities can change over time. Someone may learn Chinese as a second language, but not speak it fluently or use it regularly.
* Definitions of "Chinese" can vary. Should it include all dialects, or only Mandarin and Cantonese? What about people with Chinese heritage who don't speak Chinese?
However, we can look at some data points:
* ABS 2021 Census: According to the ABS 2021 Census, 1.8% of Australians spoke Chinese at home. This is a significant increase from 0.9% in 2006.
* Migration patterns: China is a major source of migrants to Australia, and many Chinese-born Australians continue to speak Chinese.
* Education and cultural exchange: Learning Chinese is becoming increasingly popular in Australia, suggesting a potential future growth in the number of speakers.
Therefore, while an exact percentage is not available, it's safe to say that Chinese is a growing and increasingly important language in Australia.