Voters reject marriage equality in Queensland electorate survey

Voters reject marriage equality in Queensland electorate survey
Image: Bowman federal MP Andrew Laming (Image source: ABC News)

AFTER the fall out of yesterday’s Coalition party room decision to reject a free vote on marriage equality, one Queensland Liberal MP who had thrown his support behind a conscience vote has announced he won’t be advocating for same-sex marriage based on the results of an electorate poll.

Bowman federal Liberal MP Andrew Laming, who has had a history of openly challenging Prime Minister Tony Abbott, told parliament today that the results of his electorate survey on marriage equality had been finalised, despite votes still being counted.

[showads ad=MREC]When announcing his survey, Laming said it was his goal to canvass voters in his seat in order to determine his position on the issue and vote accordingly if a free vote were granted.

“It’s a personal conscience issue and not a party political one, so [the difference] about same-sex marriage is that I’m prepared to reflect my electorate’s conscience whatever the outcome of the survey,” Laming told the Star Observer in July.

Speaking in parliament earlier today, Laming said the voters of Bowman had voted to keep marriage between a man and a woman with a 58 per cent majority.

The Star Observer was informed earlier this week that results from Laming’s poll would not be finalised until late August. Laming today said votes were still being counted but he was satisfied enough with the emerging “no” result to declare the result.

“Though we continue receiving and counting ballots, the trend is absolutely flat lining,” he told the Star Observer.

“There has only been two days where the yeses outnumbered the nos. It is now a fixed ratio so we are comfortable to call.”

On a post to his social media, Laming said he would be happy to allow the public to access the votes and ask any questions to remove any doubts about the result.

News of Laming’s electoral survey comes on the back of Flynn federal Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd’s similar marriage equality electoral poll, where questions were raised about the conduct of vote counting and treatment.

Bennelong federal Liberal MP John Alexander, whose electorate covers much of the Ryde council area of Sydney, has also been conducting an survey on marriage equality.

A spokesperson told the Star Observer that Alexander’s surveys were still coming in and not to expect a result “any time soon”.

“At this stage Mr Alexander has not decided that results from any parts of his survey will be made public,” the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, Laming has also spoken in favour of the Prime Minister’s intentions of considering a plebiscite on marriage equality as one that would lead to a sooner outcome.

“The Coalition binding vote terminates at the end of this Parliamentary term and we have announced an intention for a plebiscite after the next election, which Labor opposes,” he said.

“Their MP-only strategy is likely to get bogged in the Senate so long as election results are close.”

(Image source: ABC News)

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11 responses to “Voters reject marriage equality in Queensland electorate survey”

  1. A marriage never in the history was about love only. It was always about a man and a woman joining their life in purpose of conceiving and bringig up children.
    Who on Earth says a homosexual relationship equals with a heterosexual relationship? Who?

  2. What bullshit. This tool does not have a scientific independent survey yet uses his rubbish to justify apartheid. There is a reason why the electoral commission does not let a politician count their own votes. The survey is a device politicians are using to support or not support equality, and so some advocate apartheid. As the scientific polls show, most politicians do not want equality when their electorates do.

  3. I have two properties in Bowen hence two mail boxes as of the 18th of August I am yet still to site this so called referendum. What did he do send out to his Liberal mailing list only?

  4. What we need is the results of such a change to our Marriage laws to be fully expounded and discussed in an open and forthright manner. The media needs to allow both sides of this issue to be heard. Of the countries where it has been legalised, it has proven detrimental to any one of opposing views. There is coercion and force being used against people to comply by being subjected to huge fines and/or jail terms. Children raised in ss homes are speaking out against it. These children weren’t given a choice nor did they have a voice. Children are the ones that we should be most concerned for. No matter how good a parent you are, a substitute mom or dad is never the ideal. Let’s not rob our children of either nor have them taught in kinder, schools, universities, etc. that it is an ‘ok’ lifestyle for them.

  5. I live in the Redlands..
    Still waiting on my paper to vote YES!!!!! ….
    What a waste of time..
    No confidence in our politicians on either side…..
    Laming needs to go

  6. He is actually in my electorate, Liberal MP Andrew Laming should be voted out of office!

  7. He is a bigot scumbag who sucks taxpayers dry with his recent trips! Liberal MP Andrew Laming looks like a German cockroach – stealing food from the poor, pensioners and homeless! he is a total disgrace – I have NEVER voted for the LNP and never will!

  8. Right now lets have billion dollar referendums on:

    Being a Republic;
    A Bill of Rights;
    Marriage;
    Tougher penalties on crimes within Australia;
    Intellectual property protections;
    Bringing back a tariff scheme;
    A Red/Green Tape Reduction or Repeals Office;
    Establishing a federal corruption body (e.g. a NSW ICAC);
    Agriculture and Farmer protection;
    Stopping Coal Steam Gas;
    Abolishing all state Stamp Duty, Land and Payroll Tax;
    Increasing the GST to 15%;
    Tax Free Threshold must be increased to $20,000 (currently it is $18,000);
    People earning over $100,000, must be taxed at minimum 70 %;
    Mandatory Sex, Relationship and STI Education for all schools (public, private and religious);
    Extending the Broadband Network in rural and regional areas of Australia (both Telstra and Optus);

  9. Great idea stupid people, lets have a referendum on anything & everything! The trouble is NOTHING will pass!

  10. If we need to put equality of marriage before the nation then why not every single law? The fact is that in a modern secular democracy laws are made on the basis of the principles which underpin our democratic ambitions: justice, fairness and equity, without reference to religion. Laws should not be made on the basis of mob rule and certainly not by asking the majority what rights should be granted to minorities.