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Australia's same-sex marriage postal survey results – live
Australia's same-sex marriage postal survey: 61.6% yes, 38.4% no – live
(35 minutes later)
Victorian commissioner for gender and sexuality had just addressed thousands of people at the yes rally in Melbourne.
Here are the results, care of our data wizard, Nick Evershed.
“This campaign has been extremely hard on us. Don’t underestimate that. We see you rainbow families. We support you, we are stronger when we stand together and we will leave no one behind. I want us to hold hands or link arms now. We are stronger together. Look at us Australia. We stand united.”
There’s an interesting result in Bennelong, which is facing a looming by-election, which Labor hopes to win.
Rowena Allen says; "We see you rainbow families. We support you, we are stronger when we stand together and we will leave no one behind. I want us to hold hands or link arms now. We are stronger together. Look at us Australia. We stand united." pic.twitter.com/BbGYc2Q5at
The electorate was fairly evenly split, with 49.8% voting yes and 50.2% voting no. What will that mean for Kristina Keneally, Labor’s star candidate? The seat is already considered safe Liberal. She’s facing an uphill battle. Can she convince an electorate that is 50.2% against same-sex marriage to vote for her? We’ll soon find out.
Trust me to find the equality doggo! Theodore Tsipiras and his Very Good Boy Charlie. @heldavidson pic.twitter.com/CvQRWmSTrv
“This happened because millions of Australians reached out to our own families, neighbourhoods, organisations – to stand up for equality, stand by our loved ones and share why YES was so important,” says Alex Greenwich, of the Equality Campaign.
We are about 10 minutes out from the announcement and the yes events are filling up.
“You’ve done it. It’s YES,” he said.
And suddenly there are thousands of people here outside of the State Library in Melbourne for the Equal Love gathering. pic.twitter.com/C1YBlEnWgB
“Now, because of you, ours will be the last generation in which LGBTI relationships are not equal under the law. For the young person growing up in a small town, for the couple who have been together 40 years, and the person who’s been longing to propose: you belong here, your love is celebrated and honoured here, and never again will you be made to feel otherwise by our country’s laws.
Some stats from the Melbourne Equal Love campaign;- 250,000 yes posters posted in the streets- 150,000 badges handed out- 1 million yes stickers plastered everywhere
So pick up the phone right now. Call your son or daughter. Text your best friend. Hug your grandma. High-five the coffee guy. Pump the music in your office. Put a shiny new badge on your profile pic. Give your child a great big cuddle. Because today in Australia, fairness and equality triumphed, and we can all be proud.”
Nick Higgins and David Brine. Nick’s feeling “optimistic”. “I just wish the government would do their thing properly.” #marriageequaility pic.twitter.com/EGXui6jOuG
Reactions and observations flooding in.
Queens Gardens in Brisbane #MarriageEquality @couriermail pic.twitter.com/4rlycfprfa
It’s a g’day. Way to go Australia. #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/0tdnBHPAW1
In Melbourne, Luke and George are matching in floor-length op shop chic #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/bOBb4ou6xH
Penny Wong breaks down after she hears the #SSM result in P/H @GuardianAus @knausc #politicslive pic.twitter.com/28oHhROfIH
Swimming champion Ian Thorpe, a prominent yes campaigner, has just spoken ahead of this morning’s announcement. He said the high participation rate (80%) gives him more confidence of a positive result.
Scenes of absolute elation in Brisbane. Crowds dancing, hugging, cheering and crying. #ssm #marriageequality @couriermail pic.twitter.com/310gP9d6p0
Thorpe said a yes vote would represent “a huge victory for us”.
Thank you, Australia #yes
“This has been a long time coming, if you consider that just over a decade ago only around 30% of people supported marriage equality. We’re now feeling that support is going to be about 60%, that figure has doubled,” he told Sky News.
Malcolm Turnbull says Australians have voted “overwhelmingly yes” for fairness and commitment.
“What it will mean is that we’re recognised as being part of the community right around this country, and we’ll have the same freedoms as our straight brothers and sisters have.”
“We asked the Australian public for their view. This was an unprecedented exercise in democracy. A voluntary survey in which 80% participated and 61.6% have said yes. That is an overwhelming participation rate and an overwhelming yes vote. I know many people -a minority obviously - voted no. But we are a fair nation. There is nothing more Australian than a fair go... equality and mutual respect, and everyone has had their say.”
There is no doubt this has been a hugely damaging campaign for the emotional wellbeing and mental health of people in and supporting the LGBTQI community.
The ABC is reporting from outside the No campaign. It looks... quiet.
Today marks the end of a draining few weeks for many, who will still have to go through the political debate over legislation.
The prime minister is scheduled to hold a press conference at 10.15am. He’ll be speaking with Mathias Cormann.
It’s like the night before a really weird Christmas when in the morning you’re either getting the gift of an equal future or a swift kick to the throat.
The results are starting to come in by electorate. Turnbull’s electorate of Wentworth delivered a staggering result for the yes camp. It returned an 80% yes vote. Just 19.2% of Turnbull’s electorate voted no.
Putting the 'worthiness' of LGBTQI relationships on trial ... and then making the result non-binding anyway. IDK how we even got here tbh Australia, but let's just hope the result is positive. Half an hour to go. Let's do this. <3 Love & solidarity.
Tony Abbott’s electorate of Warringah voted 75% yes.
Waiting to hear if Australia thinks we deserve basic human rights!! #marriageequality pic.twitter.com/6GGb8mEcI0
State and territory breakdown graph courtesy of the ABS.
Good morning fellow queers I hope you're excited and ready for a totally normal and not at all emotionally draining day
pic.twitter.com/KWp0Wfk8Ef
Brenda Appleton is the Chair of Transgender Victoria, was the co-chair of the last Victorian LGBTI Taskforce, is a member of the Victorian Mental Health Expert Taskforce and a member of Victorian Government’s Elders Abuse Roundtable.
Melbourne and Sydney had the highest results for Yes - 83.7%.
On Monday she addressed the Wheeler Centre, with a powerful speech on the impact of the last few months on trans people.
A dance party has erupted in Melbourne
I am feeling tired. Tired from the awful marriage equality debate and the hurt and damage it has done to rainbow families. Tired of being judged and misjudged by fellow citizens. Tired of the focus on allowing same-sex couples to marry and not on discussing marriage is to be between two people, so that trans, gender diverse and intersex people are included. Tired that Australia is held back from being a leader in social justice reform and is relegated to a laggard.
133 of 150 electorates voted yes in the majority, 95 by more than 60%. Just 17 electorates voted no.
...
7,817,247 people voted yes.
Through the marriage equality debate we have seen attack after attack on LGBTI people, especially trans and gender diverse and young people. School children have suddenly been ridiculed and ostracised, harassed and in some cases assaulted. Cyber bullying has hit new lows or should that be highs? There has been increased self-harm and even suicides. There has been elevated levels of anxiety and related health impacts. There has been a heavy toll for LGBTI people and we fear it will not end with the announcement this week.
4,873,987 voted no - just 38.4% of the clear responses. Sorry Tony Abbott.
An interview with Lyle Shelton just aired on the big screen outside the State Library. He was drowned out by a chorus of booing. Several hundred here now.
79.5% of people voted. This was “outstanding for a voluntary survey,” he said.
The postal survey is really only the beginning. If the result returns a yes vote as it’s expected to, the nation will then look to the federal parliament to do as promised and change the law.
All age groups had participation rates above 70%, but slightly more in older age groups.
The ABC has put together a list of each MP - no mean feat this week with the revolving parliamentary doors - and how they intend to respond to the vote. Not everyone will follow the result, and some will cast their decision based on their electorate’s decision.
18 and 19 year olds responded with around 78% participating.
Of those who responded, seven MPs have said they would vote against a bill, no matter what.
Australian statistician David Kalisch is speaking. He says the ABS provided trusted, relevant and accurate statistics.
There are two bills floating around for parliament to consider, or be inspired by, or ignore. They’re an unpredictable bunch lately.
Kalisch had promised he wouldn’t draw out the announcement but is is feeling extremely drawn out.
The first was drafted by moderate Liberal MP Dean Smith. It’s a cross-party bill borne from the recommendations of a Senate committee inquiry.
Come on mate.
On Tuesday Smith officially gave notice that his bill would be moved in the Senate on Wednesday and debated on Thursday.
The second bill, revealed a few days ago by Liberal MP James Paterson, has managed to draw rebuke from even his own party colleagues, with the young conservative politician accused of dangerously threatening existing anti-discrimination protections.
Among its eyebrow raising clauses, Paterson’s bill would seek stronger rights for businesses to discriminate against same-sex weddings and couples.
Malcolm Turnbull said Smith’s bill was a good start. Paterson’s? “I think it would have virtually no prospect of getting through the parliament.”
If a No vote is returned, that will largely be the end of it for this current parliament.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has pledged Labor will not end its support for marriage equality and would legislate for it in the first 100 days of a Labor government.
Some of my Guardian Australia colleagues will be reporting from the various yes campaign events.
Melissa Davey is in Melbourne, where a couple of hundred people have already gathered outside the State Library.
It’s a fairly calm atmosphere at the moment on a hot and humid morning. A large screen has been placed in front of the library to live stream the results.
Davey’s just spoken with campaigner Emily Nachtigall.
“Personally I’m not hugely nervous – I’d be really surprised if they went with the no vote,” says Nachtigall. “Equal Love has been going since 2004 and I’ve been involved for five years. The committee has put every spare minute into this campaign, we’re tired, but I’m personally very hopeful.”
I'm at the Equal Love event in Melbourne. Emily Nachtigall (Far L) tells me she's been campaigning on this for the past 5 years and that's it's been an exhausting couple of months. pic.twitter.com/funa3jjBLs
Andrew Doherty says he always wanted to marry his partner and he’s hoping for the best.
“We’ve been together three years. I’ve pre-proposed to him. I always wanted a beach wedding in top hat and tails. I’m not happy we had to have this vote but I’m happy we have the opportunity to change things. I’m confident Australia has woken up but I’m not confident the politicians have, especially [with] these bills proposed to embed discrimination.”
Andrew Doherty; "I always wanted to marry my partner and I'm hoping for the best. We've been together three years. I've pre-proposed to him. I always wanted a beach wedding in top hat and tails." @heldavidson pic.twitter.com/EYGUHFN3l3
Supporters of the yes campaign have gathered in public areas across the country, including at an official event at Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park, Melbourne’s State Library, Queens Park in Brisbane, and Perth’s Northbridge Plaza (where it will only be 7am in the WA timezone).
A stack of parties and festivities are also planned, amid optimism about the result.
The no campaign is getting together for a private event in Sydney, with a press conference after the result.
Tony Abbott, former prime minister, current backbencher, and strident no campaigner, has said he reckons a 40% no vote would be a “moral victory”.
Early start this #marriageequality morning for a #rainbow #balloon ride over #CBR #Canberra pic.twitter.com/Ffpv6bk2s4
Getting ready to head into the city for the result announcement at the State Library... more than a bit nervous
We welcome @PrincessCruises #GoldenPrincess as she sails into #Sydney leading with a rainbow banner at the bow of the ship, in anticipation of the historic #MarriageEquality result. pic.twitter.com/RBsGUVkUb0
Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of the results of the same sex marriage postal survey.
At 10am AEDT the Australian Bureau of Statistics will reveal the outcome of the incredibly controversial, painful, and drawn out voluntary postal survey.
Most are tentatively expecting a yes result, with successive polls pointing that way.
The ABS will reveal the national split of yes votes, no votes, and where the response was unclear, as well as the breakdown by state/territory, federal electorate, and the count of people who were eligible to vote but didn’t.
Gender and age breakdowns will only be given for participation as a whole, not yes/no, as the survey was anonymous.
The press conference, by Australia head statistician David Kalisch and deputy Jonathon Palmer, will be broadcast just about everywhere and I’ll bring you all the details here.
