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Australia's same-sex marriage postal survey: 61.6% yes, 38.4% no – live Australia's same-sex marriage postal survey: 61.6% yes, 38.4% no – live
(35 minutes later)
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
The Australian public is fundamentally better than the No campaign gave it credit for, Junkee Media’s managing editor has written.
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.
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.
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
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
“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.
“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”.
“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.
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.
But one moment in Australian history required a pound of her flesh.
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.
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.
“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.”
. @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. #auspolIt’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#SSMNumber 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 seatsBy Party Yes results 61.7% in majority Labor 2PP seats, 63.3% in Liberal, 56.8% in National and 59.8% in LNP seats
Penny before, during & after the #ssm survey results were announced.@knausc @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/XrD6Q4gMfv
The resources and northern Australia minister, Matt Canavan, one of the most senior no campaigners in the government, has congratulated the yes side on its win.
On ABC News24 Canavan committed to respect the result – but it sounds like he will abstain rather than wave a bill through.
Canavan:
“I’ve always said that I will respect the wishes of the Queensland electorate that I represent, so I will be not opposing a same-sex marriage bill ...
I’ve also said always, too, that I won’t support a bill that diminishes fundamental human rights ...
I don’t think the protections in the Dean Smith bill are adequate, myself.
Canavan said the postal survey was not a vindication or rejection or any particular bill. So there’s room there to insist on the James Paterson bill and if it is not supported to take bat and ball and go home.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said she’s pleased with the yes vote nationally and in Queensland.
Campaigning in Proserpine for the state election, she said:
I am incredibly proud that we live in a progressive dynamic nation. Today means so much for so many people. It is very hard to be able to express it into words, but honestly, this is a great day. This is where we recognise that love is love. That we recognise that many families out there can now make that commitment in front of family and friends. I have friends who have had to fly to New Zealand to get married. That is not the kind of Australia that I want. I think today is a fantastic day.
Palaszczuk said legislation should pass federal parliament as soon as possible, calling for Malcolm Turnbull to introduce the Dean Smith bill and Bill Shorten to second it.
Australians would embrace the decision.
When it comes to issues such as catering and cakes and receptions and whatever – I think people are going to be lining up to make cakes and I’ll tell you what, I am not the best cook there is, but I am happy to bake a cake. There are anti-discrimination laws that should be abided by and it is absolutely imperative now that this decision has been made that everyone respects the decision, because we believe in equality.
The opposition leader, Tim Nicholls, focused on religious freedoms when asked about the result.
I think all businesses will make their own decisions in relation to who they want to provide services for and it should be over to them to make those calls.
Ian Thorpe who was at a party in Sydney, described the moment he realised the yes vote had won.
“Firstly, talk about stalling,” he said. “We’ve waited long enough on this issue, but then to have to wait as the Australia statistician was reading the results.
“But, the odd thing was that they read out the number, not the percentage, so I was like working out in my head what percentage that was and then all of a sudden realising, no, hold on, that’s more than 60%, for me, it was just overwhelming. It’s an overwhelming victory for the yes campaign and it means there’s no excuses for the politicians.”
He said waking up on the day of the vote felt the same as the morning of a big swimming competition.
“Thinking that everything was going to go well, but also having that unknown,” he said.
“Just the butterflies. When I went out this morning I couldn’t tell if Sydney looked beautiful or if it looked really ugly.”
Thopey said when he woke up this morning it felt like the day of a big swimming meet. Confident, but still the sense of the unknown. #Marriageequality pic.twitter.com/rvKB0T1yz8
Crowds at the various capital city parties erupted when the result was read out – even in Perth where it was a very early 7am, and Adelaide where it was pouring with rain.
Perth belting out an absolute banger after the 61% yes result. #ssm2017 #marriageequality pic.twitter.com/QiAYZ0834d
Sydney:
Incredible #Yes #marriageequaility pic.twitter.com/otEGFsfGde
Okay the scene in Sydney's Stonewall Hotel is pretty amazing. I will have ALL THE COLOURS. #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/NG4iPcWLNd
Brisbane:
Scenes of absolute elation in Brisbane. Crowds dancing, hugging, cheering and crying. #ssm #marriageequality @couriermail pic.twitter.com/310gP9d6p0
Adelaide:
Emotional scenes at Adelaide’s rainy #MarriageEquality  announcement - 61.6% of Australia’s voters said YES. It seems a rainbow has appeared on this dreary South Australian day. @7NewsAdelaide @AMEquality pic.twitter.com/LvzR5LFAxi
Tears of joy from Kaia, who travelled home from America for the vote and is now celebrating at Hindmarsh Sq in Adelaide. #marriageequality pic.twitter.com/ELlWe9kKbu
Melbourne:
This is the moment Australia found out 61.6% of participants voted YES in the same-sex marriage postal survey 🌈 #LoveIsLove #SSM2017 pic.twitter.com/8XbiRN1kBg
So much emotion! #melbourne #SSM #yeswins #lovewins @abcnews pic.twitter.com/ArId1TwE3R
Darwin:
The moment mothers Lisa Menchetti and May Dunlop heard 7 million Australians voted 'Yes'. May says "it makes me incredibly happy because it means our kids can have a good safe, equal future". #SSM pic.twitter.com/JrM7dLrIqw
18- and 19-year-olds really came to the party, with 81.1% of women and 75.1% of men in that age group participating in the survey, doing far better than anyone else under 40.
The only age demographics where a higher proportion of men than women participated was in the over 70s. Those in the 70 to 74 age bracket were the most likely to participate, and 25 to 29 the least.
Note, these are participation stats only – we don’t have results by age or gender because of the anonymous nature of the survey.
I posted earlier that George Christensen said he will not vote for the Dean Smith bill, and instead would abstain.
It looks like Andrew Hastie is taking the same route, according to Fairfax.
Both Hastie and Christensen’s electorates voted yes, and while Hastie had indicated to the ABC that he would likely abstain, Christensen said he would follow his electorate’s result.
Liberal Andrew Hastie, a prominent advocate of a "no" vote, tells me he will be abstaining (his WA seat of Canning voted "yes")
Labor’s Tanya Plibersek has urged action on legislating for same sex marriage, saying Australian people will not tolerate people wasting time and money “delaying the inevitable”.
Andrew Leigh says the survey result confirmed what poll after poll had said.
“Australians want marriage equality. We didn’t need to spend millions of dollars to find out that 62% of Australians and 74% of Canberrans want same-sex couples to enjoy the same rights as other Australians,” he says.
“The process of this survey has been damaging to the mental health of many gay and lesbian Australians. We’ve seen an increase in the number of calls for lines such as Reach Out and QLife. That didn’t need to happen.
“I know opponents of marriage equality are now looking for every possible blocking tactic. Having lost the survey, they now are wanting to write the law or to delay the process. We just can’t let that happen. Australians will take a very dim view of their parliament if we go to Christmas without same-sex marriage being the law of the land.”
In a statement on Facebook Tony Abbott, whose seat of Warringah voted 75% for same-sex marriage, has said that “the people have spoken and the parliament should respect the result”.
Abbott then immediately starts piling the pressure on to modify the cross-party bill authored by Dean Smith noting that Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have “pledged their support for freedom of religion.Abbott:
“I also thank the 4.7 million Australians who supported marriage between a man and a woman. Both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader have pledged their support for freedom of religion.
I look forward to a parliamentary process that improves on the Dean Smith bill to implement same sex marriage with freedom of conscience for all, not just the churches. So far, this process has been a credit to us as a nation and now needs to be completed in a way that keeps us the best country in the world.”
Two dispatches from the UK:
I’m incredibly proud of legalising Same Sex Marriage in the UK & delighted that other countries are looking to do the same. G’day Australia! https://t.co/Beg9poCc1T
Someone on my tube yells: “AUSTRALIA JUST LEGALISED GAY MARRIAGE!” The carriage cheers and claps.