Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Australia
MEDIA RELEASE
POLL FINDS MOST AUSTRALIANS WOULD NOT WANT A PLEBISCITE ON THEIR RIGHT TO MARRY
SUPPORT FOR PLEBISCITE PLUMMETS WHEN SEEN AS ISSUE OF VOTING ON OTHER’S RIGHT TO MARRY
For immediate release
Thursday 11 August 2016
A Galaxy poll released today found 76% of Australians would not be happy if they had to rely on the approval of millions of other people before they could marry.
When then asked about conducting a plebiscite on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, only 36% of respondents said they support a plebiscite
This shows that when Australians are given the opportunity to consider how they would feel if their rights were to be put to a public vote, support for a plebiscite drops to just over one third of the population, which is almost half the percentage who supported a plebiscite when it was first mooted last year.
Results from a new survey released earlier this month showed 85% of LGBTI Australians oppose a plebiscite, with about 60% opposing it under any circumstances.
Shelley Argent, national spokesperson for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays which commissioned the poll, said,
“This poll shows Australians are against judging other people’s relationships and reject a plebiscite when they realise this is exactly what a plebiscite is about.”
“We will soon be launching a campaign that will educate Australians about the indignity and dangers of a plebiscite.”
Long time marriage equality, Rodney Croome, said,
“It’s clear that when everyday Australians are encouraged to walk in the shoes of LGBTI people they reject a plebiscite.”
“Our job is to make sure politicians are encouraged to empathise as well, and drop plans for an expensive, divisive and unnecessary plebiscite.”
Over the weekend of August 6th and 7th Galaxy asked 1000 voters, “Would you be happy if you had to rely on millions of Australians to provide their approval through a national vote before you could get married?”
76% of respondents said they would not be happy.
It also asked, “The Australian public may be asked to vote in a national plebiscite on whether or not same-sex couples should be allowed to get married in this country. Regardless of your views on same-sex marriage, to what extent do you support or oppose having the public vote on this issue through a plebiscite?”
Only 36% of respondents supported a national vote.
Download a report on the Galaxy poll:
120801_SSM_plebiscite_W2_August.pdf
Shelley Argent, Rodney Croome, Peter Matthews
