Australians have voted in support of same-sex marriage with the results of the national, non-binding postal survey showing 7.8 million people – 61.6 per cent – voted ‘yes’ and 4.9 million people – 38.4 per cent – voted ‘no’.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics, which released the results of the postal survey at 10am on Wednesday, said 7,817,247 people voted ‘yes’ and 4,873,987 voted ‘no’. Less than one per cent – 0.2 per cent – of votes received were unclear.
Chief statistician David Kalisch said the goal of the ABS was to make the process as easy as possible without compromising the result.
“Australians can have trust in these statistics.”
The ABS said 12,727,920 people took part with a response rate of 79.5 per cent. Rates of participation nationally were above 70 per cent across all age groups.
State-by-state results showed the highest ‘yes’ vote was in the Australian Capital Territory – 74 per cent, followed by Victoria (64.9 per cent), Western Australia (63.7 per cent) Tasmania (63.6 per cent), South Australia (62.5 per cent), Queensland (60.7 per cent), the Northern Territory (60.6 per cent) and New South Wales (57.8 per cent).
A majority ‘yes’ vote was recorded in 133 of the 150 federal electorates.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the postal survey an “unprecedented” exercise of democracy and described the response as “unequivocal” and “overwhelming”.
“And now it is up to us, here in the Parliament of Australia, to get on with it…and get this done, before Christmas. That must be our commitment.”
He said that while a minority voted ‘no’, “everyone has had their say”.
“I say to all Australians, whatever your views on this issue may be, we must respect the voice of the people…The people have voted yes for marriage equality. Now it is our job to deliver it.”
In response to a question, Mr Turnbull added: “Our goal is to have the legislation pass through the Parliament before we rise before Christmas.”
He said Liberal Senator Dean Smith’s bill to legalise same-sex marriage does provide protections for religious bodies and ministers of religion.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten welcomed the result, saying it was a “fabulous day to be an Australian”. “Today we celebrate, tomorrow we legislate!” he told a crowd in Melbourne.
Lyle Shelton, of the Coalition for Marriage which had urged people to vote ‘no’, offered his congratulations to the Yes Campaign but said the result was “obviously a disappointment”. He thanked the campaign’s supporters.
The postal survey was announced in August and opened for voting in September.
