Number of responses to postal survey higher than expected
Image: Image: Twitter / Australian Bureau of Statistics.
An already higher than expected turnout for the marriage equality postal survey has been announced.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) says it will be releasing weekly estimates of the number of responses it has received, though not estimates of results, according to The Courier Mail.
ABS deputy statistician Jonathan Palmer said the numbers were being released to encourage people to participate in the survey.
The first official figures of votes received will be released next week.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said there would be a high turnout for the survey.
“I think it’s going to be a very high turnout, particularly for a voluntary postal vote,” he said.
“It’s now in the hands of the Australian people, but I think that while there’ve been a few ugly incidents, overall the debate has been very respectful and that’s good.”
The High Court has meanwhile released its reasoning for allowing the survey to go ahead, saying it rejected arguments that the government did not have the authority to fund the survey and that the ABS did not the capacity to execute it.
The postal survey closes on November 7, with results to be announced on November 15.
I’m Trans, Male sex, Female mind, Straight orientation. I voted yes as I’d like to maybe have the benefits of marriage one day. In saying that part of me also think that Straight people should not be allowed to marry, marriage is religious and religion is a mental illness. We should all be able… Straight, Gay, Trans and all the rest be able to have a ceremony and have all the legal benefits, just call it something different. Rant over, have a lovely point, Namaste.