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Australians decisively support same-sex marriage | Australians decisively support same-sex marriage |
(35 minutes later) | |
Australians have voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in a historic non-binding poll. | Australians have voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in a historic non-binding poll. |
The vote showed 61.6% of people favour allowing same-sex couples to wed, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. | The vote showed 61.6% of people favour allowing same-sex couples to wed, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. |
More than 12.7 million people - about 79.5% of eligible voters - took part in the eight-week postal survey. | More than 12.7 million people - about 79.5% of eligible voters - took part in the eight-week postal survey. |
PM Malcolm Turnbull said the "overwhelming" result meant his government would aim to change the law in parliament before Christmas. | |
"[Australians] have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality," he said after the result was announced. | |
"They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it." | |
Supporters began celebrating the result in public spaces across Australia on Wednesday, waving rainbow flags and singing and dancing. | |
Mr Turnbull, a same-sex marriage supporter, is facing debate within his government over what the parliamentary bill should include. | |
Some conservative MPs are pushing for the the bill to include exemptions that would allow businesses opposed to same-sex marriage to refuse goods and services for weddings. |