Marriage conscience vote supported
Almost 80 percent of Australians support a conscience vote on same-sex marriage, according to a poll released this morning.
And the same Galaxy poll also showed an increase in national support for same-sex marriage, now sitting at 62 percent, up 2 percent from the previous poll.
The poll puts further pressure on the Gillard Government to reconsider its position on marriage equality. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has continuously stated the Labor Party’s position is that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that her government would not allow a conscience vote on the issue.
The poll marks the start of a renewed campaign by Australian Marriage Equality (AME) and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to change the Marriage Act to recognise same-sex couples.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young reintroduced her bill to amend the Marriage Act to recognise same-sex couples on day one of the new parliament.
However Ms Gillard has already dismissed the poll and the Greens bill, saying it may never reach the parliament’s lower house.
Galaxy polled 1050 people aged 18 and older throughout Australia.
More to come
