For people in Perth it was an early morning rise to find out the results of the postal survey on marriage equality. On this day back in 2017 people gathered in the Northbridge Piazza to listen to a live telecast of the results being announced by the head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The night before the WA Police had been asking the leaders of WA’s campaign for the Yes vote, community leaders and journalists from OUTinPerth if anyone had any idea how many people would turn up for the announcement which would arrive at 7.30am.

While people in Sydney filled Centenary Park, many wondered if people on the west coast would just stay home to watch the result while still in their pajamas.

By 7am though the Northbridge Piazza was filled with people, all eagerly awaiting the result. Many of them had campaigned for the change to the nation’s marriage laws for years. When the news came through it was a clear win for the Yes campaign with 61.6% Australian voters saying yes.

A year after the announcement some of the people who had campaigned for the change met up again at the piazza and reflected on the previous 12 months. For some they were now married, others had become engaged to long term partners.

The years that followed have also seen a political debate over who gets to claim success in bringing marriage equality to Australia with all sides of politics taking credit, despite years of opposition to changing the laws.

OIP Staff, Image: Clayton K Media. This article was first published in 2020 and has been updated.

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Western Australian Senator and Shadow Minister for Equality Louise Pratt has shared her thoughts on the advent of marriage equality since Australia voted Yes last year.

Senator Pratt says the Liberal Government should never have put Australians in the position of having to debate and vote on the fundamental right for a consenting adult to marry who they love.

“Through the expensive, non-binding plebiscite hard-right conservatives were given a platform for their divisive and hateful language to spread mistruths about LGBTI people and their families.”

“In the past year over 5000 people have been married in same-sex weddings across the country. Many of these couples have been together for decades and have finally been afforded the opportunity to have their relationship recognised in law.”

Senator Pratt says it has also been an incredible step forward for children of rainbow families, who could see their parents wed “comfortable in the knowledge that in the eyes of the law and a clear majority of their peers, their family is equal.”

“I want to pay tribute to the thousands of Australians who campaigned for the YES result. The campaign was difficult at times, but it was fuelled by a shared goal of equality for all Australians and powered by committed and energetic campaigners that knew exactly how important it was to all of the LGBTI community that the nation returned their ballots in favour of a YES result.”

“All Australians should feel proud today that together we made a positive change for our nation. Together we made a clear statement that we want to see an Australia that is fair and equal.”

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It’s one year today since the results of the Marriage Postal Survey were announced and Australia’s LGBTIQ+ population found out that enough of their fellow citizens had ticked the YES box for marriage equality.

During the campaign for marriage equality a lot of claims about the outcomes of a YES vote were suggested by the opponents of change. In a new video current Mr Gay World Jordan Bruno asks some of his friends which predictions have come true.

Watch the video.

OIP Staff

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OIP Staff

The post PHOTOS: Marriage Equality Survey Announcement Perth appeared first on OUTinPerth.

One of the major driving forces behind the ‘Yes’ campaign in Australia’s postal survey on marriage equality have responded to the successful ‘Yes’ outcome.

The Equality Campaign have described the result as a “historic milestone for Australians and a victory for equality and fairness that sends a powerful message to Federal Parliament to legislate for marriage equality now.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced this morning that 7.8 million (61.6%) voting Australians chose ‘Yes’ in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. The Equality Campaign will now work with all sides of politics to ensure that the ‘Yes’ vote is translated to legislation in Canberra.

Prominent ‘Yes’ campaigner Tiernan Brady said that this campaign was won because thousands of positive conversations happened across the country.

“Our campaign has been one of respectful dialogue about real people’s lives. It has been about our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, colleagues, neighbours and teammates,” Brady continued.

“We didn’t ask for a national poll on our dignity and worth, but LGBTI Australians have been overwhelmed with the support they have received from their friends, family members, colleagues and teammates during this process.”

The Equality Campaign’s Anna Brown added that while it’s important to celebrate today, tomorrow the work really begins.

“It’s now time for parliament to do their job and vote this through as soon as possible,” Brown said.

“The government has the Dean Smith Bill that is a reflection of the consensus reached by all parties. Let’s get on with it. Australians won’t stomach anyone playing with the lives of their LGBTI friends and family any longer.”

Alex Greenwich of the Equality Campaign also thanked Australia’s LGBTI community and supporters for contributing to the campaign’s success.

“This has been a moment of unity where Australians have come together in support of fairness and equality and delivered an unequivocal mandate to Federal Parliament to deliver marriage equality now,” Greenwich said.

“We are so grateful for the millions of people who showed immense leadership and dedication during this campaign, truly making Australia a fairer and more equal place.”

“A fair go is at the heart of Australian society and our laws should reflect the values of which we are most proud.”

The Senate is expected to see the introduction of WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith’s marriage Bill later today.

OIP Staff

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics have announced a ‘YES’ result has triumphed in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.

After weeks of intensified debate, 61.6% Australian voters have declared that same sex couples should be allowed to marry by way of a unique postal survey devised by the Turnbull Government.

The result has been described as an emphatic endorsement, with all states and most electorates voting YES.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described the results as an “overwhelming” endorsement for same sex marriage. Speaking to the media shortly after the announcement the PM said all Australians had had their say on the issue and now it was time for the politicians to “get on with it”.

“Our goal is to have the legislation passed through the parliament before we rise for Christmas.” Malcolm Turnbull said.

Acting Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann said Australians had made it clear that they wanted the law to be changed.

Labor leader Bill Shorten commented on the results saying they showed that love was the winner.

“Yes, yes, yes! What a fabulous day to be an Australian,” Shorten told Yes campaign supporters in Melbourne. “Today we celebrate, tomorrow we legislate.”

Speaking in Canberra this morning, Australian statistician David W. Kalisch made the historic announcement, revealing that the majority of people had voted YES.

Kalisch said that with a majority of people in all age groups and across all elections taking part in the exercise Australians could look at the results of the survey as a high participation result and consistent result.

The ABS chief also noted a high number of 18 to 19-year-olds took part of the survey with 78% of Australia’s youngest voters taking part in the process.

The ABS also announced that the process had cost much less than the anticipated $120 million, revealing they expected the total cost to come in at less than $100 million.

Thousands of people gathered in the Northbridge Piazza to hear the results, with loud cheers being shouted as the results were announced.

Western Australian Senator Dean Smith is expected to introduce his bill to the Senate this afternoon and get to work legislating for marriage equality immediately, with support from Labor’s Penny Wong and Louise Pratt, Greens Richard Di Natale, and Janet Rice, Liberal senators Linda Reynolds and Janet Hume, and crossbenchers Derryn Hinch and Skye Kakoschke-Moore.

An alternative conservative bill from fellow Liberal Senator James Paterson has also been put forward for debate in the result of a ‘YES’ outcome, though the Prime Minister has dismissed the proposal as having ‘no prospect’ of passing through parliament.

Graeme Watson & Leigh Andrew Hill, Images: Clayton K, Annique Cockerill 

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The Equality Campaign is reminding supporters they have one last chance to vote YES for marriage equality — by hand delivering their postal survey forms by tomorrow afternoon.

With the deadline now passed to return the forms by post, the only option left for the majority of eleventh-hour voters is to personally deliver forms to drop-off centres at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

A small number of online voters issued with a Secure Access Code have until 9pm to register their response.

The drop-off centres are open until 4.30 pm in every state and territory capital city, except Melbourne, which is closed for the Melbourne Cup public holiday.

Alex Greenwich, from the Equality Campaign, said for people who like to leave things to the last minute – this was the last chance.

“We know that many Australians like to work to a deadline – well that deadline has well and truly arrived.

“Posting your YES is now not an option, but there is still time to hand deliver your vote directly to the ABS or vote online if that applies to you.

“If your survey form is still on the kitchen table, or in the bottom of your gym bag, get it out, fill it in and take it to the ABS drop-off centre before 4.30pm on Tuesday. The addresses are there on the ABS website.

“Do it first thing in the morning or on the way to your Melbourne Cup party. This is too important not to act – even this late in the process. Every Australian deserves to have their voices heard on fairness and equality for their LGBTI family and friends,” Greenwich said.

The ABS last week estimated that more than 12.3 million people, or 77% of eligible voters, had participated in the postal survey. A further estimate will be released tomorrow afternoon.

The Equality Campaign’s Shirleene Robinson said the high turnout was encouraging, but the Campaign would work until the survey closes to ensure every last YES vote is returned.

“There’s still time to show our politicians that we won’t settle for anything less than fairness and equality for LGBTI Australians.

“What better way to guarantee that your YES vote is counted than to personally deliver it?

“There’s still 24 hours to make a decisive contribution on the side of fairness and equality for all.

“Don’t wake up on 15 November and regret not having your say,” Robinson said.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics will accept marriage postal survey forms and it’s drop-off centre until 4:30pm on Tuesday. The ABS office is at Level 1, Durack Centre, 263 Adelaide Terrace, Perth.

Source: Media Release from The Equality Campaign 

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A special NewsPoll published in The Australian has shown that support for marriage equality has grown over the last two weeks of the marriage postal survey campaign.

If the predictions are accurate, the ‘No’ campaign faces an almost impossible task of needing to secure 97 per cent of the remaining ballots to be able to get a slim majority in the survey.

The latest figures show support for marriage equality had grown from 59 per cent to sixty two percent among people who have submitted their forms. While the ‘No’ campaign had made some advancements within the first few weeks of the campaign, they have lost ground dropping from 38 per cent to just 35 per cent.

Yesterday the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the nearly 12 millions Australians, an whopping 77 per cent of eligible participants, had returned their survey forms.

The Coalition for Marriage, the alliance of conservative lobby groups that forms the ‘No’ campaign against change is undeterred. This morning the group fired off an email to supporters urging them to keep door knocking and finding the remaining forms that have not been submitted.

With a likely ‘Yes’ result being delivered on November 15th, politicians have now begun arguing over what the legislation to allow for same sex marriage will look like.

Western Australian senator Dean Smith has put forward a private member’s bill developed from the findings of a senate inquiry into the issue, but opponents to marriage equality have argued that it does not contain enough protections for people who hold religious convictions.

Liberal MP Michael Sukkar, an opponent of marriage equality, is the latest MP to suggest that Senator Smith’s bill does not include enough exemptions.

“I have looked at Senator Smith’s bill and in my view it doesn’t contain the full suite of protections that many of our voters would expect, but, like all these things, these sorts of bills will be negotiated through the parliament, not even negotiated within a particular party but negotiated through the parliament and it’ll be the will of the parliament at the end of the day that shapes whatever bill,” Sukkar told Sky News on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared that he’s committed to passing the legislation before Christmas, but conservative MP’s, mostly from within his own party, have cast doubt on the proposed timeline.

Liberal National Party member Warren Entsch, a vocal supporter of marriage equality, will cut short his secondment to the United Nations, so he can be back in Canberra for the party room debate over the legislation.

OIP Staff

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed the latest statistics on the marriage postal survey, sharing that a massive 77 percent of Australians have taken part in the process.

The Equality Campaign has welcomed the latest estimate of forms received and reminded YES voters that forms can be posted this week and still arrive in time.

So far it’s estimated that 12.3 million Australians have shared their opinion on whether same sex couples should be allowed to wed. The latest figures are an increase of 400,000 from the previous weekly update from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Tiernan Brady, from the Equality Campaign, welcomed the increase and said survey forms that were posted in the next few days still had a good chance of making the deadline.

“We welcome the high turnout of voters because it shows that Australians are passionate about getting marriage equality done,” Brady said.

“There’s still time to have your voice heard even if you haven’t posted your ballot yet. The deadline isn’t until the 7th of November, so posting your ballot this week means it still can get there.

“It’s not too late. Don’t throw it in the bin, put it in the post.

Brady urged supporters of change not to be complacent and keep campaigning for a positive result.

“Don’t expect marriage equality to get over the line with someone else’s vote. If you want marriage equality to happen you have to make your voice heard,” Brady said.

While the recommended deadline for getting your postal survey in the mail passed last Friday, another option is for people to hand deliver their forms to one of the remaining ABS drop-off centres.

The Equality Campaign’s Shirleene Robinson said this was something people should consider if they didn’t think the mail would get the form back in time.

“If you don’t want to risk the postal system, you have the option of going in person to the drop-off centres and hand delivering your form. You can do this right up until 4.30pm on 7 November.

“The centres are located in all the state and territory capitals as well as Geelong and are open between 8.30am and 4.30pm. Their addresses are on the ABS website.”

However, Shirleene Robinson said Victorians should note that the Melbourne drop-off centre would be closed on the final day the survey can accept forms, 7 November, for the Melbourne Cup.

The ABS has also advised that Australians using online response forms and the Interactive Voice Response have until 9pm (AEDT) on Tuesday 7th November to register their vote. These are 24-hour, seven-days-a-week services.

“We can only guarantee equality by sending a strong YES result to politicians. And that means everyone needs to get their YES vote back to the ABS in whichever way guarantees its arrival before the final deadline of 6pm, 7 November,” Robinson said.

The Coalition for Marriage have also encouraged their supporters to make sure they submit their survey forms as soon as possible, claiming that the survey was not just about allowing same sex marriage, but also potential consequences of that change.

“A change to the definition of marriage affects everyone, and so we strongly encourage anyone who has not yet voted to do so as soon as possible,” Coalition for Marriage spokeswoman Monica Doumit told News Corp Australia.

“There won’t be a public vote on the introduction of radical LGBTIQ sex and gender programs into the classroom; there won’t be a public vote on free speech or freedom of religion.

“This postal survey is the only opportunity the Australian people have not only to vote on same-sex marriage, but also on the consequences of that change.”

OIP Staff

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Actor Michael Caton has starred in many much loved Australian films and television programs.

From Uncle Harry in The Sullivans to Ted Taylor in Packed to the Rafters, and starring roles in films like Strange Bedfellows, Last Cab to Darwin and the iconic Aussie film The Castle.

Now the actor has made a short video explaining why he thinks the ‘Yes’ box is the right one to trick in the marriage postal survey.

Caton says when he was growing up in the 40’s he didn’t even realise homosexuality existed. Once he started working in amateur theatre though he got to meet some great gay people.

The actor shares that two of his oldest friends are Alan and John, who he met in 1969.

“They were together then in 1969,” Caton says, before pausing and adding “and they’re together now.

“John is 95, Alan is 88, and they live in a nursing home not far from where I live now, and when I think of marriage equality, I think of what it could mean to them.”

Check out the inspiring clip.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics recommends that all forms in the marriage survey be posted back by Friday to ensure they are received before the deadline.

OIP Staff

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