The latest Guardian Essential poll shows that a ‘Yes’ result is still likely in the marriage postal survey, despite support for changing dropping over the course of the campaign.
The new poll has revealed that of 2000 people surveyed around 60% indicated that they had voted ‘yes’.
The poll has found distinct differences in participation based on age, ninety per cent of Australians over 55 have voted compared with only 60% of people aged under 35.
Given that support for change is highest among younger voters, that statistic has got some ‘Yes’ campaigner worried, and there is a focus on making sure as many forms are returned as possible.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics recommends that all surveys be posted back by Friday in order to arrive before their cut-off next week.
If the ‘Yes’ campaign is successful politicians will still have to deal with the issue in parliament, and pass legislation to allow changes to the marriage act to occur.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed his confidence that legislation could be passed before Christmas but other members of the coalition are not as confident.
Senator James Patterson has warned that the legislation should not be rushed. Patterson, who supports marriage equality, has told the media that a number of legislative options need to be explored.
The Victorian senator said while colleague Dean Smith’s private members bill is a good start, he’d like to see other options on how religious freedoms and freedom of concience can be protected.
“I think there are other alternatives that go further in protecting religious liberty and freedom of conscience.” Senator Patterson said.
Western Australian Liberal MPs Ian Goodenough and Andrew Hastie have indicated that they are developing their own marriage bill in collaboration with other conservative MPs. The conservative bill has been described as having provisions that go “beyond the ceremony”.
The Labor party have thrown their support behind the bill created by Senator Dean Smith, arguing that it includes a sufficient level of protections.
OIP Staff
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