Latest poll: Two-thirds of nation want marriage equality legislated this year

Two-thirds (66%) of Australians voters want marriage equality to be legislated by the Australian parliament by the end of the year according to the latest reachTel Poll commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality (AME) and Australians for Equality (A4E).

“Australians are ready to celebrate marriage equality and want our politicians to legislate this year,” said Alex Greenwich, Co-Chair, Australian Marriage Equality.

The survey also revealed that almost 60% of Australians over the age of 65 and 68% between the ages of 51-65 want marriage equality to be legislated by the end of the year.

“A majority of voters across all parties, and undecided voters, feel it’s important this reform is achieved without delay. This survey reveals that the Australian people support marriage equality and simply want parliament to do its job so we can all move forward,” Mr Greenwich said.

“The opponent’s campaign wont stop if a plebiscite is blocked, this means urgent action is required from our supporters across the political divide to deliver this reform by a parliamentary vote without further delay,” Mr Greenwich said.

Tiernan Brady, Executive Director of Australians for Equality said, “Around the world we know once equality is embraced it is celebrated, and everyone moves forward.

“Once it happens it ceases to be a political issue because everyone just moves on. In Ireland, no one stood at the recent election on the platform of repealing same sex marriage.

“Just as Ireland, the USA, NZ, and the UK have put the unnecessarily divisive debate behind them, the Australian parliament has in its power to do this by the end of the year.

“If the plebiscite is derailed this week it is now more important than ever to use the momentum and enthusiasm built up to enact marriage equality,” Mr Brady said.

“Should Labor oppose a plebiscite, we will be urging all parties to put the plebiscite to rest swiftly, and move to achieve marriage equality this year through a vote in parliament,” Mr Greenwich concluded.

ReachTEL conducted a survey of 2,740 residents across Australian households. The survey was conducted the night of 6th October 2016.

Question:
How important is it that the parliament resolve the matter and legislate for marriage equality this year?

Clint McGilvray Communications Director | Australian Marriage Equality