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Same-sex marriage in Australia

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A June 2004 poll conducted by Newspoll showed that 38% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, with 44% opposed and 18% undecided.[1][2]

In June 2007, a Galaxy poll conducted for advocacy group GetUp! measured the opinions of 1,100 Australians aged 16 and over[3] and found that 57% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, 37% were opposed and 6% were unsure. The poll also found that 71% of respondents supported same-sex couples having the same legal entitlements as opposite-sex de facto couples.[4]

A June 2009 poll conducted by Galaxy Research and commissioned by the Australian Marriage Equality group measured the opinions of 1,100 Australians aged 16 and over and found that 60% of respondents supported the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 36% opposed and 4% undecided.[5] Among Greens voters 82% supported same-sex marriage, whilst 74% of those aged 16–24 supported same-sex marriage. Those aged 50 or above were the only age bracket to oppose same-sex marriage recognition, at a 55% disapproval rate.[5]

An October 2010 poll conducted by Galaxy Research and commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality measured the opinions of 1,050 Australians aged 18 and over and found that 62% of respondents supported the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 33% opposed and 5% undecided.[6] The poll found 78% of respondents supported a conscience vote on the recognition of same-sex marriage, with 16% opposed and 6% undecided. Support was highest amongst those respondents aged 18–24 (84%), and who lived in South Australia (83%). The majority of respondents from each state and each age bracket were in support.[6]

A March 2011 poll conducted by Essential Media found that support for same-sex marriage had fallen below 50% and opposition was up by 4%. [6]

A July 2011 poll of 543 people conducted by Roy Morgan Research measured the support for a number of positions on marriage and found that 68% of Australians support same-sex marriage and 78% classified marriage as a "necessary" institution, with only 22% stating it was an "unnecessary" institution.[6]

A November 2011 Galaxy Research poll of over 1000 voters found that 80% agreed that Tony Abbott should allow the Liberal/National Coalition a conscience vote on same-same marriage legislation as the Australian Labor Party do. Support for a conscience vote among Coalition supporters reached an all-time high of 76%[7]

In a February 2012 online poll of 1506 Australian adult members on the Nine Rewards website by Angus Reid Public Opinion found that 49% of respondents said same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, 31% said they should be allowed to enter into civil unions but not marry and 14% opposed any legal recognition.[8] No attempt was made to make the survey representative of the entire population, and the Nine Rewards website is associated with the Nine Network, an Australian television channel popular with older and more conservative viewers.

From February–April 2012 the House of Representatives conducted an online survey to provide a simple means for the public to voice their views on same-sex marriage and the two bills in the parliament which sought to legalise it, the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012.[9] The survey closed on 20 April, having received approximately 276,000 responses, including about 213,500 comments.[10] Of these responses, 64.3% supported same-sex marriage, or approximately 177,600 of the respondents. The report acknowledged that "The online survey was not a statistically valid, random poll. Respondents were self-selected, in that they chose to participate if they wished." [11]

A May 2013 Ipsos poll found that 54% of respondents were in favour of same-sex marriage and another 20% supported another form of recognition for same-sex couples.[12] Results from the August 2013 Vote Compass survey of Australian voters found that 52% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, 12% were neutral, and 36% believed that marriage "should only be between a man and a woman".[13]

An August 2013 poll conducted by Fairfax Media and Nielson Polling found that 65% of respondents supported legalising marriage between same-sex couples, up 8 points since December 2011, while only 28% were opposed (down 7 points). Support was greater among women (75%) than men (55%) and greater among younger voters than older voters.[14] 57% of respondents said that same-sex marriage was ‘not important at all’ in deciding how they would vote in the coming election.[15] Even for those supporting same-sex marriage 49% said that the issue was "not important at all" in deciding their vote.[14]

A July 2014 poll, commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and conducted by the Crosby Textor Group found that 72% of Australians supported legalising same-sex marriage, while only 21% were opposed. A majority of those identifying with major religions supported same-sex marriage, including Catholics, Anglicans and non-Christian religions as did a majority of older Australians aged over 55. Mark Textor stated "This poll definitively puts pay to some of the myths that married couples or those with religious beliefs are against same-sex marriage. It doesn’t devalue their marriages or faith, and instead gives everyone equal access to the rights they are accorded". Further, 77% of respondents agreed that Coalition MP's and Senators should be granted a conscience vote on the issue.[16][17] Jim Reed, director of Research and Strategy at the Crosby Textor Group argued in an opinion piece that the poll represented a "seismic shift in public attitudes towards marriage equality."[18]

Also in July 2014 Newscorp's Newspoll recorded a high vote in favour of same-sex marriage, with two-thirds of respondents supporting marriage between same-sex couples.[19]

Federal parliamentarians who publicly support same-sex marriage

House of Representatives

The Australian House of Representatives contains 150 seats. On 19 September 2012, a bill introduced by Labor MP Stephen Jones aimed at legalising same-sex marriage was defeated 42 to 98 votes. Labor MPs were allowed a conscience vote while Liberal Party Leader Tony Abbott did not allow a free vote for Liberal Party MPs.[20] However, Liberal frontbencher Kevin Andrews said that, "(We) counted the numbers ... The reality is it would not have made much difference whatsoever to the numbers. There would have been half a dozen people... who would have voted the other way.[21]

Active MPs who have announced their support of same-sex marriage:[20]

47 / 150
Member Party Electorate State/Territory
Anthony Albanese[20] Labor Grayndler NSW
Adam Bandt[20] Greens Melbourne VIC
Sharon Bird[20] Labor Cunningham NSW
Gai Brodtmann[20] Labor Canberra ACT
Mark Butler[20] Labor Port Adelaide SA
Terri Butler[22] Labor Griffith QLD
Jim Chalmers[23] Labor Rankin QLD
Nick Champion[20] Labor Wakefield SA
Jason Clare[20] Labor Blaxland NSW
Julie Collins[20] Labor Franklin TAS
Pat Conroy[24] Labor Charlton NSW
Clare O'Neil[25] Labor Hotham VIC
Mark Dreyfus[20] Labor Isaacs VIC
Justine Elliot[20] Labor Richmond NSW
Kate Ellis[20] Labor Adelaide SA
Matt Thistlethwaite[26] Labor Kingsford Smith NSW
Lisa Chesters[27] Labor Bendigo VIC
Gary Gray[20] Labor Brand WA
Sharon Claydon[28] Labor Newcastle NSW
Brendan O'Connor[29] Labor Gorton VIC
Alan Griffin[20] Labor Bruce VIC
Jill Hall[20] Labor Shortland NSW
Andrew Giles[30] Labor Scullin VIC
Stephen Jones[20] Labor Throsby NSW
Catherine King[20] Labor Ballarat VIC
Jenny Macklin[20] Labor Jagajaga VIC
Richard Marles[20] Labor Corio VIC
Melissa Parke[20] Labor Fremantle WA
Graham Perrett[20] Labor Moreton QLD
Tanya Plibersek[20] Labor Sydney NSW
Amanda Rishworth[20] Labor Kingston SA
Clare O'Neil[25] Labor Hotham VIC
Joanne Ryan[31] Labor Lalor VIC
Bernie Ripoll[32] Labor Oxley QLD
Bill Shorten[20] Labor Maribyrnong VIC
Alannah MacTiernan[33] Labor Perth WA
Warren Snowdon[20] Labor Lingiari NT
Andrew Wilkie[20] Independent Denison TAS
Cathy McGowan[34] Independent Indi VIC
Laurie Ferguson*[35] Labor Werriwa NSW
Teresa Gambaro*[36] Liberal Brisbane QLD
Andrew Leigh*[37] Labor Fraser ACT
Kelly O'Dwyer*[38] Liberal Higgins VIC
Malcolm Turnbull*[39] Liberal Wentworth NSW
Michael Danby*[40] Labor Melbourne Ports VIC
David Feeney[41] Labor Batman VIC
Wyatt Roy*[42] Liberal National Longman QLD

* Has previously voted against same-sex marriage

Senate

The Australian Senate contains 76 seats. The following lists active Senators who voted to legalise same-sex marriage in September 2012 or have since announced their support of same-sex marriage:[43]

30 / 76
Member Party State/Territory
Simon Birmingham*[44] Liberal SA
Carol Brown[43] Labor TAS
Doug Cameron[43] Labor NSW
Kim Carr[43] Labor VIC
Nova Peris[45] Labor NT
Richard Di Natale[43] Greens VIC
Sue Lines[46] Labor WA
John Faulkner[43] Labor NSW
Sarah Hanson-Young[43] Greens SA
David Leyonhjelm[47] Liberal Democratic NSW
Scott Ludlam[43] Greens WA
Kate Lundy[43] Labor ACT
Gavin Marshall[43] Labor VIC
Anne McEwen[43] Labor SA
Jan McLucas[43] Labor QLD
Christine Milne[43] Greens TAS
Claire Moore[43] Labor QLD
Janet Rice[48] Greens VIC
Lee Rhiannon[43] Greens NSW
Rachel Siewert[43] Greens WA
Sam Dastyari[49] Labor NSW
Lisa Singh[50] Labor TAS
Anne Urquhart[43] Labor TAS
Larissa Waters[43] Greens QLD
Peter Whish-Wilson[43] Greens TAS
Penny Wong[43] Labor SA
Penny Wright[43] Greens SA
Nick Xenophon[43] Independent SA
Joe Ludwig[51] Labor QLD
Arthur Sinodinos[52] Liberal NSW

* Has previously voted against same-sex marriage

Recognition of unions involving transgender people

In October 2007, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal overturned a decision by the Foreign Affairs Department refusing to issue a transgender woman a passport listing her as female because she is married to a woman. The tribunal ordered that she be issued a passport listing her as female, in accordance with her other official documents, thereby recognising the existence of a marriage between two persons who are legally recognised as female.[53]

Marriage equality advocates have noted that where same-sex marriage legislation is unclear on the rights of transgender or intersex people, they have asked to ensure that any such legislation delivers marriage equality for all Australians.[54]

See also

LGBT rights in Australian states and territories:

References

  1. ^ Same-sex marriage debate
  2. ^ Same-sex marriage public opinion trend from 2004-2010
  3. ^ Public backs gay unions, equality - National - theage.com.au
  4. ^ 'Most Australians back same-sex marriage' | News.com.au
  5. ^ a b [1][dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b c d [2][dead link‍] Cite error: The named reference "autogenerated2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ Abbott comes under pressure to allow same-sex marriage conscience vote: The Australian 5 December 2011
  8. ^ Australians Support Same-Sex Marriage More Than Americans and Britons: Angus Reid Public Opinion 12 March 2012
  9. ^ "Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012". Aph.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  10. ^ "Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 - Summary of responses". Aph.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  11. ^ "Inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 - Report". Aph.gov.au. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  12. ^ "Same-Sex Marriage". Ipsos. 7–21 May 2013.
  13. ^ "Vote Compass: Majority of voters back gay marriage". abc.net.au. 29 Aug 2013.
  14. ^ a b Gay marriage support up but it won't change poll
  15. ^ Neilsen, Mary Anne. "Same-sex marriage". Australian Parliament House. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  16. ^ Mark Textor (15 Jul 2014). "New poll shows record 72% support for marriage equality". Crosby Textor Group.
  17. ^ Lisa Cox (15 July 2014). "Poll shows growing support for same-sex marriage". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  18. ^ Jim Reed (31 July 2014). "The tides have turned on same-sex marriage". The Drum. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  19. ^ Natasha Bita (July 16, 2014). "Marriage equality wins support of two out of three". The Australian.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Cullen, Simon (19 September 2012). "Lower House votes down same-sex marriage bill". ABC News. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  21. ^ "Same-sex marriage question settled for some time, says Kevin Andrews'". The Australian. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  22. ^ Butler's position
  23. ^ Chalmer's position
  24. ^ Conroy's position
  25. ^ a b O'Neill's position
  26. ^ See here
  27. ^ Chester's position
  28. ^ Claydon's position
  29. ^ O'Connor's position
  30. ^ Giles' position
  31. ^ Ryan's position
  32. ^ Ripoll's position
  33. ^ Her position
  34. ^ "Cathy McGowan: Positions on other issues". cathymcgowan.com.au. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  35. ^ Bertola, Vera (14 September 2011). "Laurie Ferguson alone in same-sex support". Werriwa: Macarthur Chronicle.
  36. ^ "Gay marriage: does your MP agree with you?". news.com.au. 1 December 2010.
  37. ^ Andrew Leigh (13 February 2012). "Same-Sex Marriage". andrewleigh.com.
  38. ^ Kelly states her position on Same Sex Marriage
  39. ^ "Turnbull's gay marriage support opens door for other Coalition MPs". Australian Marriage Equality. 6 December 2011.
  40. ^ Potts, Andrew (25 May 2013). "Labor MP changes mind on marriage as Sydney marches for equality". Gay Star News. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  41. ^ Advocates Welcome David Feeney’s Pledge To Vote For Marriage Equality
  42. ^ Piotrowski, Daniel (24 May 2013). "Coalition MP Wyatt Roy, 23, supports gay marriage". News.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Cullen, Simon (20 September 2012). "Senate votes down same-sex marriage bill". ABC News. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  44. ^ Karvelas, Patricia (12 November 2010). "Liberal senator backs gay marriage". The Australian.
  45. ^ Peris' position
  46. ^ Lines' position
  47. ^ New senator David Leyonhjelm urges libertarian MPs to 'come out of the closet' and support same-sex marriage
  48. ^ Greens party policy: Marriage equality
  49. ^ Dastyari's position
  50. ^ Singh's position
  51. ^ Australian Marriage Equality says it has secured the support of Joe Ludwig
  52. ^ Record number of candidates give backing for gay marriage
  53. ^ Australian trans passport victory- from Pink News- all the latest gay news from the gay community - Pink News
  54. ^ Busby, Cec (26 February 2014). "Advocates call for inclusive marriage equality bill". Gay News Network. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
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