Marriage equality in regional Australia has been given another boost by the publication of a full-page advertisement in the Goulburn Post Weekly featuring 30 local businesses declaring their support for reform.

The ad was organised by local group Hume Supports Marriage Equality with member and local project coordinator Brian Hill saying he was impressed with the amount and depth of local business support,

“Many local businesspeople agreed to participate in the advertisement when they were signing a petition asking for a conscience vote in parliament.”

“The day the ad was published I was contacted by businesses that had not been approached due to time constraints expressing their support and wanting to be included next time.”

“The support, encouragement and willingness of the businesses participating was very empowering and in some cases surprising.”

“Many of people I spoke with told personal stories about family members who had suffered because of discrimination and the effects this had on their families – they wanted this discrimination to end.”

Hume is a predominantly rural region with agriculture and coal mining the leading industries.

The current member for Hume is Liberal MP Angus Taylor. Mr Taylor has not yet declared his position on marriage equality.

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said,

“Right across regional Australia businesses are showing their support for marriage equality and sending the message that regional communities do too.”

“We urge Angus Taylor to represent those voters and businesses in his electorate who believe the Coalition should have a free vote and that marriage equality should pass in this Parliament.”

Tom Sebo, from Hume Supports Marriage Equality, thanked those involved in the ad.

“We are thrilled to see so many businesses pledge their support for this important reform.

“We’re proud to have been able to provide this platform.

“Brian and the team at AME have done a great job delivering this project.

“I would personally like to thank everybody involved, especially the leaders in our business community.”

A list of the companies involved and a copy of the ad are included below.

The Goulburn ad comes just a day after a similar ad was published in Noosa, in the Queensland electorate of Wide Bay.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome