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| Australia's same-sex marriage postal survey: 61.6% yes, 38.4% no – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| That’s where we’ll leave today’s rolling coverage of the historic same sex marriage survey. | |
| It was a controversial, expensive, and often traumatic exercise which in the end confirmed Australians supported marriage equality in numbers similar to those found by repeated polling. | |
| But it won. 61.6% of people who took part in the non-binding postal survey said Yes. The No campaign got 38.4% - lower than the 40% that former prime, Tony Abbott said would deliver a “moral victory”. | |
| No campaign leader, Lyle Shelton, blamed the media and the “relentlessness” of the Yes campaigners. | |
| Some MPs said they would still vote no in parliament, or would abstain, but 133 of the 150 federal electorates returned a majority support for marriage equality. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull and George Brandis hope and expect marriage equality will be law by Christmas. | |
| Senator James Paterson gave up on his controversial rival bill, revealed just a few days ago, conceding the cross-party bill proposed by Dean Smith had the support required. | |
| The Smith bill has been formally introduced in the Senate and Christopher Knaus is continuing to blog over on our regular Politics Live blog. Tomorrow the Smith bill will be debated and all the key developments will be covered by Politics Live. | |
| Tonight Australia’s LGBTIQ community and its family, friends, and supporters, will celebrate, or perhaps just sigh with relief. | |
| More international congratulations - this time from New Zealand and Canada. | More international congratulations - this time from New Zealand and Canada. |
| Love wins in Australia! Thrilled to hear Australians have voted in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage. #MarriageEquality | Love wins in Australia! Thrilled to hear Australians have voted in favour of legalizing same-sex marriage. #MarriageEquality |
| Congratulations to Australia on their incredible show of support for #marriageequality! What an amazing achievement for the Australian LGBTIQ* Community.❤️💛💚💙💜 | Congratulations to Australia on their incredible show of support for #marriageequality! What an amazing achievement for the Australian LGBTIQ* Community.❤️💛💚💙💜 |
| Senator James Paterson has given up on his much maligned bill for same-sex marriage, conceding there was more support for the one drafted by Dean Smith. | Senator James Paterson has given up on his much maligned bill for same-sex marriage, conceding there was more support for the one drafted by Dean Smith. |
| Paterson’s rival conservative marriage bill would have overridden already existing anti-discrimination laws to allow “religious freedoms” of refusing service to same-sex marriages. | Paterson’s rival conservative marriage bill would have overridden already existing anti-discrimination laws to allow “religious freedoms” of refusing service to same-sex marriages. |
| Paterson said he was pleased with the result (he voted yes), and the parliament must now quickly pass legislation. | Paterson said he was pleased with the result (he voted yes), and the parliament must now quickly pass legislation. |
| “The parliament must now quickly pass a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. It is clear the majority of senators believe my colleague Senator Dean Smith’s bill is where we should start,” he said. | “The parliament must now quickly pass a bill to legalise same-sex marriage. It is clear the majority of senators believe my colleague Senator Dean Smith’s bill is where we should start,” he said. |
| “I will now work constructively with my parliamentary colleagues over the coming weeks on amendments to ensure that the strongest possible protections for the freedoms of all Australians are enshrined in the final legislation.” | “I will now work constructively with my parliamentary colleagues over the coming weeks on amendments to ensure that the strongest possible protections for the freedoms of all Australians are enshrined in the final legislation.” |
| Of course, there can now be amendments to the Smith bill, and each of the measures in the Paterson bill can be put up and considered one by one. But in the legislative fight, that’s round one for Liberal moderates. | Of course, there can now be amendments to the Smith bill, and each of the measures in the Paterson bill can be put up and considered one by one. But in the legislative fight, that’s round one for Liberal moderates. |
| Within hours of the announcement of the survey results, billboards have appeared at Canberra airport lobbying for fast action on the legislation. | Within hours of the announcement of the survey results, billboards have appeared at Canberra airport lobbying for fast action on the legislation. |
| “I’ve fallen in love with my country all over again,” writes the Guardian’s David Marr on today’s result. | “I’ve fallen in love with my country all over again,” writes the Guardian’s David Marr on today’s result. |
| Marr was at Prince Alfred Park when the win for the yes side was announced. Read his piece on what it means here, and watch the moment he and his partner Sebastian Tesoriero heard that 61.6% number. | Marr was at Prince Alfred Park when the win for the yes side was announced. Read his piece on what it means here, and watch the moment he and his partner Sebastian Tesoriero heard that 61.6% number. |
| “For old men like me this is another step on a once-unimaginable journey. Sex was a crime when I made my first stumbling entry into the gay world. Even when those crimes were wiped from the books, so much complicated shame was left to be negotiated. The business of coming out was endless. | “For old men like me this is another step on a once-unimaginable journey. Sex was a crime when I made my first stumbling entry into the gay world. Even when those crimes were wiped from the books, so much complicated shame was left to be negotiated. The business of coming out was endless. |
| The smothering respectability of official Australia back then came back to sex. It was all about sex. But censorship collapsed. The press relaxed. Gays, lesbians, transsexuals and queers began to be accepted in public life. | The smothering respectability of official Australia back then came back to sex. It was all about sex. But censorship collapsed. The press relaxed. Gays, lesbians, transsexuals and queers began to be accepted in public life. |
| The obvious became unremarkable. Australia became a better place. We could put our energies where they mattered. Today’s result is fresh proof we live in a wonderfully muddled, lively society that happily accepts all sorts of confusion and contradiction. We’re real, relaxed and alive.” | The obvious became unremarkable. Australia became a better place. We could put our energies where they mattered. Today’s result is fresh proof we live in a wonderfully muddled, lively society that happily accepts all sorts of confusion and contradiction. We’re real, relaxed and alive.” |
| Federal MP for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, voted no in the survey but will support a bill in parliament. | Federal MP for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, voted no in the survey but will support a bill in parliament. |
| I'll be reflecting and respecting the "yes" vote of Australians in Parliament about same sex marriage.My position hasn't changed - while I voted "no" in the survey and explained why, I will honour the voice of the majority of our community by voting "yes" to change the law. pic.twitter.com/RzJi66Tcbj | I'll be reflecting and respecting the "yes" vote of Australians in Parliament about same sex marriage.My position hasn't changed - while I voted "no" in the survey and explained why, I will honour the voice of the majority of our community by voting "yes" to change the law. pic.twitter.com/RzJi66Tcbj |
| The Australian public is fundamentally better than the no campaign gave it credit for, Junkee media’s managing editor has written. | The Australian public is fundamentally better than the no campaign gave it credit for, Junkee media’s managing editor has written. |
| Rob Stott, who has been a strong advocate for a yes vote, pulled no punches in his excoriation of the no campaign’s tactics. Here’s an excerpt: | Rob Stott, who has been a strong advocate for a yes vote, pulled no punches in his excoriation of the no campaign’s tactics. Here’s an excerpt: |
| The no campaign knew it had to change millions of minds if it was going to win this thing. And so on day one of the campaign it dispensed with the idea that this was ever about marriage. Instead, they had to make us feel fear. | The no campaign knew it had to change millions of minds if it was going to win this thing. And so on day one of the campaign it dispensed with the idea that this was ever about marriage. Instead, they had to make us feel fear. |
| In order to win, they were going to have to lie, distort, and misrepresent. They told us Australia’s social fabric would be torn apart if marriage equality became legal, that children would be harmed, and that people of faith would be persecuted. None of it was true, but that didn’t matter. Truth is the first casualty in war, and the no campaign wanted to run a holy war for the soul of the nation. | In order to win, they were going to have to lie, distort, and misrepresent. They told us Australia’s social fabric would be torn apart if marriage equality became legal, that children would be harmed, and that people of faith would be persecuted. None of it was true, but that didn’t matter. Truth is the first casualty in war, and the no campaign wanted to run a holy war for the soul of the nation. |
| The lies were egregious and harmful. They called same-sex parents child abusers and said their children were a new Stolen Generation. They called us “fascists” and said we were “disordered”. They declined opportunities to disavow violence and intimidation, while doing everything they could to link every person acting badly on the yes side to the official campaign. | The lies were egregious and harmful. They called same-sex parents child abusers and said their children were a new Stolen Generation. They called us “fascists” and said we were “disordered”. They declined opportunities to disavow violence and intimidation, while doing everything they could to link every person acting badly on the yes side to the official campaign. |
| They said that a yes vote was a vote for compulsory radical gay sex education, and that equality meant an end to free speech. A little research proved many of their claims to be nonsense. They were petty, like when they tried to shut down a singer they disagreed with. And they told small lies, even about the size of their crowds at rallies. Sometimes their silence was most deafening of all – like when they declined to condemn a man who praised Hitler for murdering gays. | They said that a yes vote was a vote for compulsory radical gay sex education, and that equality meant an end to free speech. A little research proved many of their claims to be nonsense. They were petty, like when they tried to shut down a singer they disagreed with. And they told small lies, even about the size of their crowds at rallies. Sometimes their silence was most deafening of all – like when they declined to condemn a man who praised Hitler for murdering gays. |
| If @TurnbullMalcolm had a heart he'd put a few grand behind the bar at Stonewall today | If @TurnbullMalcolm had a heart he'd put a few grand behind the bar at Stonewall today |
| The attorney general, George Brandis, has told the Senate he couldn’t give a date for change to the Marriage Act, but he hoped and expected it would be before Christmas. | The attorney general, George Brandis, has told the Senate he couldn’t give a date for change to the Marriage Act, but he hoped and expected it would be before Christmas. |
| AG George Brandis: I'm not in a position to confirm a date for commencement but I expect the amending act to proclaimed before Christmas pic.twitter.com/7R2xBTTeMS | AG George Brandis: I'm not in a position to confirm a date for commencement but I expect the amending act to proclaimed before Christmas pic.twitter.com/7R2xBTTeMS |
| “This is a landmark victory for the many, many Australians who have campaigned for marriage equality,” says Jonathon Hunyor, the chief executive of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which ran an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge against the survey. | “This is a landmark victory for the many, many Australians who have campaigned for marriage equality,” says Jonathon Hunyor, the chief executive of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, which ran an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge against the survey. |
| “Australia has spoken, and the answer is a resounding yes, across every state and territory. | “Australia has spoken, and the answer is a resounding yes, across every state and territory. |
| “The prime minister now needs to provide the leadership necessary to ensure that legislation passes quickly and decisively for marriage equality. The LGBTI community – and the many millions who voted yes – deserve nothing less.” | “The prime minister now needs to provide the leadership necessary to ensure that legislation passes quickly and decisively for marriage equality. The LGBTI community – and the many millions who voted yes – deserve nothing less.” |
| Hunyor called for the flat rejection of “any move to establish further grounds for discrimination against LGBTI Australians”. | Hunyor called for the flat rejection of “any move to establish further grounds for discrimination against LGBTI Australians”. |
| “The people voted ‘yes’, not ‘yes – subject to further discrimination.” | “The people voted ‘yes’, not ‘yes – subject to further discrimination.” |
| Katharine Murphy has written a fantastic piece about Labor senator and Yes campaigner, Penny Wong, who had to appear front and centre this morning. | Katharine Murphy has written a fantastic piece about Labor senator and Yes campaigner, Penny Wong, who had to appear front and centre this morning. |
| Labor’s Senate leader enters political battle with a suit of armour, always composed, always perfectly prepared; she deploys a Boudicca-like character which is both real and curated public projection, to deliver what needs to be delivered. | Labor’s Senate leader enters political battle with a suit of armour, always composed, always perfectly prepared; she deploys a Boudicca-like character which is both real and curated public projection, to deliver what needs to be delivered. |
| If the Wong temper flares, if the eyebrow lifts, it’s for a purpose, it’s choreography, not impulse. Impulse is something that happens behind closed doors, never in the professional sphere, which is about reason, preparation and calculation. | If the Wong temper flares, if the eyebrow lifts, it’s for a purpose, it’s choreography, not impulse. Impulse is something that happens behind closed doors, never in the professional sphere, which is about reason, preparation and calculation. |
| But one moment in Australian history required a pound of her flesh. | But one moment in Australian history required a pound of her flesh. |
| Read the full piece from Murphy, here: | Read the full piece from Murphy, here: |
| The conservative Coalition MP, Kevin Andrews – who in the past has compared same sex relationships to his friendships with “cycling mates” – has reiterated calls for religious protections in legislation. | The conservative Coalition MP, Kevin Andrews – who in the past has compared same sex relationships to his friendships with “cycling mates” – has reiterated calls for religious protections in legislation. |
| In calling for bakers and other service providers to be allowed to refuse service for same sex weddings, Andrews also said Islamic bakers should be able to refuse service to Jewish customers, and vice versa. | In calling for bakers and other service providers to be allowed to refuse service for same sex weddings, Andrews also said Islamic bakers should be able to refuse service to Jewish customers, and vice versa. |
| Andrews said he didn’t have a problem with the right of refusal based on beliefs, listing as examples: a gay baker refusing to make a cake for a straight wedding, a Christian refusing to bake for an Islamic celebration, or a Jewish baker denying a cake to an Islamic customer. | Andrews said he didn’t have a problem with the right of refusal based on beliefs, listing as examples: a gay baker refusing to make a cake for a straight wedding, a Christian refusing to bake for an Islamic celebration, or a Jewish baker denying a cake to an Islamic customer. |
| “In relation to marriage, that’s what we’re talking about,” he said. “This goes to fundamental religious beliefs and beliefs of conscience.” | “In relation to marriage, that’s what we’re talking about,” he said. “This goes to fundamental religious beliefs and beliefs of conscience.” |
| Pushed on an example where an Islamic baker refused service to a couple of mixed religion, Andrews responded: “Fine, I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t have a problem at all.” | Pushed on an example where an Islamic baker refused service to a couple of mixed religion, Andrews responded: “Fine, I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t have a problem at all.” |
| . @kevinandrewsmp : A Jewish baker should be able to deny an Islamic customer a wedding cake and vice versa. MORE: https://t.co/wX3tAbXkD4 pic.twitter.com/5lIekTmeRS | . @kevinandrewsmp : A Jewish baker should be able to deny an Islamic customer a wedding cake and vice versa. MORE: https://t.co/wX3tAbXkD4 pic.twitter.com/5lIekTmeRS |
| Ever the optimist, conservative senator Cory Bernardi has seen the result as a sign of what a great job the no campaign did. | Ever the optimist, conservative senator Cory Bernardi has seen the result as a sign of what a great job the no campaign did. |
| In a video message he said he was disappointed with the result but was “heartened by the fact that 40% [sic] of Australians shared our concerns about the implications and consequences of redefining marriage”. | In a video message he said he was disappointed with the result but was “heartened by the fact that 40% [sic] of Australians shared our concerns about the implications and consequences of redefining marriage”. |
| He warned that activists could be “emboldened now to roll out the abhorrent Safe Schools program through every school in the country”, and said his party was the only one in the country to campaign on the no vote. Campaigning would continue, he said. | He warned that activists could be “emboldened now to roll out the abhorrent Safe Schools program through every school in the country”, and said his party was the only one in the country to campaign on the no vote. Campaigning would continue, he said. |
| “Whilst we’ve lost this battle, it’s only just begun.” | “Whilst we’ve lost this battle, it’s only just begun.” |
| Another Labor MP, Linda Burney, has confirmed she will vote for same-sex marriage in parliament, despite a clear majority of her electorate voting against it. | Another Labor MP, Linda Burney, has confirmed she will vote for same-sex marriage in parliament, despite a clear majority of her electorate voting against it. |
| Burney’s electorate is Barton in Sydney. It voted 56.4% against same-sex marriage. | Burney’s electorate is Barton in Sydney. It voted 56.4% against same-sex marriage. |
| Burney says she respects alternative views, but has already committed to voting in favour. | Burney says she respects alternative views, but has already committed to voting in favour. |
| It’s clear there are a range of views on this issue, including in my electorate, and I respect each and everyone’s opinion. But I made it clear long ago, that I support #MarriageEquality and I will vote for it in the Parliament. #auspol | It’s clear there are a range of views on this issue, including in my electorate, and I respect each and everyone’s opinion. But I made it clear long ago, that I support #MarriageEquality and I will vote for it in the Parliament. #auspol |
| The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, has released a statement saying she and her two Senate colleagues “acknowledge the Australian public’s response to the same-sex marriage postal vote and await the government’s final private member’s bill”. | The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, has released a statement saying she and her two Senate colleagues “acknowledge the Australian public’s response to the same-sex marriage postal vote and await the government’s final private member’s bill”. |
| Setting aside that oxymoron (a private member’s bill is by definition not a government bill), it sounds like Hanson isn’t committing to pass anything.Hanson: | Setting aside that oxymoron (a private member’s bill is by definition not a government bill), it sounds like Hanson isn’t committing to pass anything.Hanson: |
| “We also assure the millions of Australians who have legitimate concerns about this process that One Nation will take a balanced approach when considering the final legislation. | “We also assure the millions of Australians who have legitimate concerns about this process that One Nation will take a balanced approach when considering the final legislation. |
| Any bill will be thoroughly examined before One Nation determines its position in the Senate. | Any bill will be thoroughly examined before One Nation determines its position in the Senate. |
| My office will publicly release the bill on my social media sites and we look forward to your feedback.” | My office will publicly release the bill on my social media sites and we look forward to your feedback.” |
| Everyone is mining through the results data finding interesting stats (but remember correlation =/= causation). | Everyone is mining through the results data finding interesting stats (but remember correlation =/= causation). |
| If you want to explore the data yourself, Nick Evershed has put together this interactive (with bonus digital confetti) of the electorate breakdown. | If you want to explore the data yourself, Nick Evershed has put together this interactive (with bonus digital confetti) of the electorate breakdown. |
| Number of electorates where more than 50% voted No:NSW: 12/47 QLD: 3/30VIC: 2/37WA: 0/16SA: 0/11TAS: 0/5NT: 0/2ACT: 0/2#SSM | Number of electorates where more than 50% voted No:NSW: 12/47 QLD: 3/30VIC: 2/37WA: 0/16SA: 0/11TAS: 0/5NT: 0/2ACT: 0/2#SSM |
| 'Yes' vote strongly correlates (78%) with no religion (no shock) at electorate level pic.twitter.com/goshzL029h | 'Yes' vote strongly correlates (78%) with no religion (no shock) at electorate level pic.twitter.com/goshzL029h |
| By Party Yes results 61.7% in majority Labor 2PP seats, 63.3% in Liberal, 56.8% in National and 59.8% in LNP seats | By Party Yes results 61.7% in majority Labor 2PP seats, 63.3% in Liberal, 56.8% in National and 59.8% in LNP seats |