TL;DR
A postal survey of the entire country of Australia concludes by a majority public vote to legalize Same-sex Marriage. This is a monumental vote for the country and its people and a step in the right direction.
Australians at home and abroad are rejoicing because their fellow countrymen & women have made sure their voices are heard regarding same-sex marriage — and they are all unanimously in favor of it!
According to the results of a groundbreaking national postal survey that was carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), close to 62 percent of Australians who voted said YES to legalize same-sex marriage with a clear majority in every single state and territory demanding they get marriage equality. The overall turnout of eligible voters nationwide was close to 76 percent.
The government, which chose to survey the people instead of conventional methods, will present the results before the parliament to pass the verdict on the issue.
It’s expected that a bill for the same will pass, with many opponents of same-sex marriage in their parliament surprisingly promising to respect the result and provisions for amendments. Labor MPs are unanimously in favor of the bill along with a large section of cross-benchers expected to support the bill.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (who voted yes), has already pledged to follow through with the popular vote. “We must respect the voice of our people. We asked them for their opinion and they have given it to us. It is overwhelming,” he said at a press conference. The Prime Minister said a decision vote will come sometime before Christmas.
The Opposition Labor Party’s leader, Bill Shorten, at a rally in Melbourne, said: “What a fabulous time to be an Australian – because in this survey the Australian population has stated that Australia is ready for wholesome marriage equality.
With this, Australia is en route to become the 25th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage (in at least some jurisdictions and provinces).
