A survey conducted by deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop (pictured) has shown over three quarters of participants favour same sex marriage. Ms Bishop, who holds the safe Liberal seat of Curtin with a 16 per cent margin, asked her electorate for their views on same sex-marriage via her home page.
The survey has found 77 per cent of participants ‘strongly support’ a change to the Marriage Act. The poll has been open since December 9.
Former opposition leader and communications minister Malcolm Turnbull has also opened up consultation on same-sex marriage in his Sydney electorate of Wentworth.
However, a Queensland woman who contacted her local MP about same-sex marriage said she ‘wasn’t surprised’ when he said he wouldn’t support it.
Bundaberg resident Helen Christie contacted Liberal-National member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd back in December.
The 35-year-old emailed O’Dowd for his views on same-sex marriage and how he was going to consult his electorate on the topic.
A spokesperson for O’Dowd told Christie the MP would ‘not support legislation that will alter the status of traditional marriage between a man and a woman’.
Although O’Dowd added that he did not seek to ‘prevent or discourage people from entering into a same-sex relationship’.
Christie said she was actually surprised she received a response.
A spokesperson for O’Dowd told OUTinPerth the MP had consulted his electorate and received an 80 per cent response against same-sex marriage.
The poll on the deputy opposition leader’s website asked ‘Do you support a change to the Marriage Act to recognise the marriage of same-sex couples?’
The poll also found approximately 10 per cent of participants ‘strongly opposed’ a change to the Marriage Act to include gay couples.
The poll was still open when this article went to publication.
Have you spoken to your local MP about same-sex marriage?
If you have, let us know what they said and if you were happy with their response at editor@www.outinperth.com or on (08) 9371 9877.
Benn Dorrington
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