Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News Australia

Majority of Australians vote yes in national same-sex marriage survey

byMark Bowling
15 November 2017 - Updated on 1 April 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA

Vote: “Parliamentarians must recognise and respect the concerns of the more than 4.8 million Australians who opposed a change to the definition of marriage by putting in place strong conscience and religious freedom protections."

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Vote: “Parliamentarians must recognise and respect the concerns of the more than 4.8 million Australians who opposed a change to the definition of marriage by putting in place strong conscience and religious freedom protections.”

AUSTRALIANS have voted in support of legalising same-sex marriage following the results of a national survey.

The result came to 61.6 per cent voting ‘Yes’ and 38.4 per cent voting ‘No’.

A total of 133 out of 150 electorates recorded a majority ‘Yes’ result while only 17 voted ‘No’.

The national survey returned 7.8 million responses in support of same sex marriage and 4.9 million voted against.

Queensland voters followed the national trend with 61 per cent voting ‘Yes’ and 39 per cent voting ‘No’.

In an address to the Australian public, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the survey results captured the views of the Australian people.

“It is our job now to get on with it, get on with it and get this done,” Mr Turnbull.

“It is fair. The people have voted yes for marriage equality. Now it is our job to deliver it.”

Liberal Senator Dean Smith is expected to introduce his bill in the Senate today to legalise SSM.

However, conservatives are pushing for an alternative bill with far-reaching religious protections.

Related Stories

Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

Ukraine war forces surrogate mothers and parents to face tragic choices

Mum, when will I see you again?

Large crowds sporting the rainbow flag turned out in Brisbane on George St near Parliament House and in Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park.

Comedian and same-sex marriage campaigner Magda Szubanski performed a jig on stage at the Sydney rally.

“Decades of struggle, advocacy and campaigning has won an historic victory,” Opposition leader Bill Shorten said in a joint statement with fellow Labor politicians, Tanya Plibersek, Penny Wong and Terri Butler.

“This has been a long and difficult campaign for many LGBTIQ people, your families and friends. We salute your courage, strength and determination to win this fight.”

Yes vote: Same-sex marriage supporters in Brisbane celebrate the survey result. Photo: Mark Bowling.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Denis Hart said today in the wake of the result that parliament must work to unify Australians by respecting different views on marriage.

“The Catholic Church, and many others who sought to retain the definition of marriage as it has been understood for centuries, continues to view marriage as a special union between a woman and a man, which allows for the creation and nurture of children,” Archbishop Hart said.

“A change in civil law does not change the Catholic understanding of the nature of marriage.

“The Catholic Church continues to respect the dignity of LGBTIQ Australians and our ministries will continue to care deeply about the dignity and value of all people we encounter.

“Parliamentarians must recognise and respect the concerns of the more than 4.8 million Australians who opposed a change to the definition of marriage by putting in place strong conscience and religious freedom protections.

“These protections must ensure that Australians can continue to express their views on marriage, that faith-based schools can continue to teach the traditional understanding of marriage and that organisations can continue to operate in a manner that is consistent with those values.”

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher encouraged traditional marriage supporters to promote the sanctity of marriage.

Archbishop Fisher said while he respected the views of ‘Yes’ voters, he was “deeply disappointed” that it could lead to legislation that would “further deconstruct marriage and family in Australia”.

“But I am heartened that millions of Australians still stand by the conviction that marriage is a unique relationship between a man and woman,” Archbishop Fisher said.

“In fact, only 48 per cent of eligible voters voted Yes to redefining marriage in law.”

Archbishop Fisher acknowledged all voters who courageously stood up for traditional marriage.

“From the outset it has often seemed a David and Goliath struggle with politicians, corporates, celebrities, journalists, professional and sporting organisations drowning out the voices of ordinary Australians and pressuring everyone to vote Yes,” the Archbishop said.

“What’s remarkable is how many stuck to their guns and voted No or abstained.”

Leading ‘No’ campaigner, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz, said the postal survey was “a decision that I regret but respect”.

“Changing a fundamental societal institution that pre-existed the nation-state is something which should rightly be decided by the people as a whole and it has been with a very strong turnout despite claims from many quarters that this process would fail,” Senator Abetz said.

“While disappointed by the result, I am heartened by the strong ‘No’ vote in the face of such a relentless campaign from the ‘Yes’ campaign by the media, political elites and celebrities.”

ShareTweet
Previous Post

How God keeps surprising Paul and Christine Hodgkinson

Next Post

Pro-life or pro-choice? Major parties state their positions ahead of Queensland election

Mark Bowling

Mark is the joint winner of the Australian Variety Club 2000 Heart Award for his radio news reporting in East Timor, and has also won a Walkley award, Australia’s most-respected journalism award. Mark is the author of ‘Running Amok’ that chronicles his time as a foreign correspondent juggling news deadlines and the demands of being a husband and father. Mark is married with four children.

Related Posts

Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation
People

Hearts ‘fused’ together living their vocation

15 May 2022
Ukraine war forces surrogate mothers and parents to face tragic choices
Hot Topics

Ukraine war forces surrogate mothers and parents to face tragic choices

24 March 2022 - Updated on 28 March 2022
Mother and son: A photo of Fr Harry Chan when he was a child with his mother. Photo: Supplied
Faith

Mum, when will I see you again?

22 November 2021
Next Post
pregnant woman

Pro-life or pro-choice? Major parties state their positions ahead of Queensland election

Deacon Andrew O'Brien walks through the guard of honour following his diaconal ordination.

Permanent diaconate growing with Deacon Andrew O'Brien ordained for Brisbane

Professor Pilar Vigil

Fertility doctor promoting more effective methods than IVF says women deserve to know how their body works

Popular News

  • Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

by Joe Higgins
20 May 2022
0

BRISBANE grandmother Gwendoline Grant has clocked up 15,000 hours cuddling and caring for sick and premature babies...

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022
Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping