78% OF AUSTRALIANS DON’T WANT UNEQUAL SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LAW
12% OF 25-34 YEAR OLDS HAVE NOT VOTED

The overwhelming majority of Australians have voted Yes for marriage equality and an even larger majority don’t want same-sex couples treated differently to other couples when the Marriage Act is amended.

These are the results of the latest Galaxy Research poll commissioned by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

The poll found 66% of those who have voted in the postal survey voted Yes, including 68% of Australians with young children.

It also found that 78% of Australians want the Marriage Act amended in a way that does not treat same-sex couples differently to other couples.

This includes 98% of Yes voters and 43% of No voters.

The poll found 7% of voters have not voted as at October 31st, but that rose to 12% of voters aged 25 to 34.

PFLAG national spokesperson, Shelley Argent, said,

“This poll couldn’t be clearer, Australians want marriage equality and we want it without any of the caveats and exemptions that will further entrench discrimination against same-sex couples.”

“If and when the Yes crosses the line first, the No case should not be given the trophy of being able to write the legislation.”

“Australians have voted Yes for full equality.”

Coalition conservatives have flagged up to 100 amendments to marriage equality legislation that could allow married same-sex partners to be refused service by businesses, sacked from their jobs, or not recognised as married.

Long-time marriage equality campaigner, Rodney Croome, welcomed the Galaxy results but warned they shouldn’t be cause for complacency.

“I’m concerned that 25 to 34 year olds have been less likely to return their ballots, given they are more likely to support marriage equality.”

“It’s vital that the Yes campaign do all it can to encourage young Australians to return their ballots in the last few days of the postal survey.”

Postal survey ballots will be received by the Australian Bureau of Statistics up until COB on November 7th.

A copy of the Galaxy poll is attached.

For more information contact Shelley Argent on 0409 363 335 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.

Summary of Galaxy poll findings:
66% of Australians who have voted, have voted Yes
34% have voted No
68% of Australians with young children have voted Yes
78% want same-sex couples to be treated the same under the law as other couples
98% of Yes voters want same-sex couples treated the same
43% of No voters want same-sex couples treated the same
7% of voters have not yet voted as of October 31st
12% 25 to 34 year olds had not yet voted
PFLAG national spokesperson, Shelley Argent