ABS estimates 57.5 per cent of postal survey forms returned

ABS estimates 57.5 per cent of postal survey forms returned
Image: Image: Australian Bureau of Statistics / Twitter.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the first of its weekly postal survey estimates, stating that 9.2 million (57.5 per cent) survey forms have already been returned.

The estimate is current as of last Friday and is based only on bulk containers of returned forms and is not a count of individual or processed forms.

Reported numbers are only indicative and do not include forms that have been returned but not yet received by the ABS.

It was last week that the ABS announced it would release weekly updates tracking the progress of the postal survey.

“We hope that this update will serve as a reminder to those who have not submitted their form to do so promptly if they wish to have their say,” ABS Deputy Statistician Jonathan Palmer said.

“If you haven’t received your form, or your form is lost or damaged, please contact us via our website and we will send you a new one.”

The deadline to request a new survey form if you haven’t received it is 6pm on Friday October 20.

Tiernan Brady, director of The Equality Campaign, said they “are calling in all those who support marriage equality and fairness for all to make sure they fill in the vote and get it to the post box.”

“We can’t expect someone else to get this over the line – it will take each and every one of us to have our say.

“We have always known that Australians care about fairness and equality for everyone and that we all want to live in a country that champions and reflects these values.”

Coalition for Marriage spokesghoul Lyle Shelton said the “high turnout demonstrates that the Australian public understand the gravity of the decision before us and they know it has consequences for everyone.”

“Our campaign will continue tirelessly until the final person casts their vote and the ballot closes,” he said.

Shelton added that the Coalition for Marriage is “encouraged” by high numbers of returned forms.

“Half of the country is yet to make up its mind; this conversation is still wide open,” he said.

The ABS figures contrast with polling released by The Equality Campaign yesterday which suggested as high as 77 per cent of eligible voters had returned their survey forms.

While the estimate has been adjusted to account for online responses and invalid forms, Brady stated that “there’s no room for complacency.”

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2 responses to “ABS estimates 57.5 per cent of postal survey forms returned”

  1. Dear Fellow members of The Commonwealth
    Well, your government is spending millions on a non binding mail in ballet on allowing gay marriage.
    Over 40 countries in the Commonwealth do no allow gay marriage. And they are amazing countries (I’m being sarcastic!)
    Non binding surveys do nothing.
    I suspect that the right will win this one.
    As a Canadian, we’ve had gay marriage since 2005. We still have Easter, Christmas, and lots of other religious holidays for the multi ethnic community’s that make up CANADA.
    I have always thought Oz was a progressive country, not sure how I got that one wrong.
    I know you will continue the strong fight for equality if this fails.
    Remember, these people will face re-election some day too
    The world is so full of hate and ignorance right now. President “Twisties”
    (I had to Google that one! – we have cheesies in Canada) has opened the doors, windows and the mouths of people with hatred and fear of something as simple as LOVE!
    I write this just hours after the mass shooting in Las Vegas.. People with hate in their hearts and mental health issues are scary people.

    I’m on the other side of the planet with my fingers crossed for you all!

    George Clark-Dunning
    Canada

    • Thanks George, best wishes to you too at this less than excellent time in global geopolitics.

      Many Australians support marriage equality, surveys have consistently shown majority support for marriage equality for several years now, both our PM and opposition leader support it, but the very loud minority opponents of marriage equality have nagged us to this point so now it’s a hundred million dollar plus “statistical survey” (because our constitution has no mechanism for issues to be resolved via plebiscite).

      We’re envious of Canada’s long acceptance of marriage equality and its progressive government, pretty much everything except the weather!