Almost twice as many Australians support same-sex marriage than those who oppose it, according to a national opinion poll released last month.
Conducted by Galaxy polling on behalf of Australian Marriage Equality, the results of the poll show that 60 percent of people support equal marriage rights being granted in Australia, 36 percent oppose it and 4 percent were undecided.
In a separate question, 58 percent of people agreed that same-sex marriages conducted overseas should be recognised in Australia.
When examined along political lines, the poll shows 74 percent of Greens voters and 63 percent of ALP voters support same-sex marriage as opposed to 49 percent of Coalition voters.
Australian Marriage Equality national convenor, Peter Furness, says the poll clearly contradicts the Federal Government’s stance that the Australian public does not support same-sex marriage.
‘In the last couple of years the government has provided only one justification for prohibiting or not recognising same-sex marriages, and that is that their position reflects the wider community, but we’ve known for a good couple of years that that is not the case,’ he said.
Similar poll results in the past show a steady increase in support for same-sex marriage, from 38 percent in a 2004 SBS Newspoll to 57 percent in a 2007 Galaxy poll and now, 60 percent.
‘We will be writing to the Prime Minister very soon, providing him with a copy of our poll results and trying to get him to provide a justification, because we think it is incumbent on the government to provide an explanation, both to us, the gay and lesbian community and to the wider community,’ said Mr Furness.
The Greens are set to introduce a private member’s bill to alter the Federal Marriage Act for the second time since 2004.
While Mr Furness is doubtful the bill will be passed, he says the move by the Greens is an important one as it will encourage debate and keep the issue of same-sex marriage before parliament.
‘The Australian people are well and truly ready for this reform,’ he said.
In 2004 the Howard Government, with the support of the Labor Opposition, amended the Federal Marriage Act to prohibit same-sex marriages occurring in Australia as well as the recognition of same-sex marriages from overseas.
A National Day of Action will be held on August 1 to commemorate the 2004 same-sex marriage ban and to coincide with the ALP National Conference.
Organisers are planning simultaneous, mass illegal same-sex weddings in every state.
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