Australia: Second poll confirms rise in support for marriage equality
A poll has corroborated earlier findings that suggested support for marriage equality had surged.
A Crosby Textor poll earlier this week found that 72% of Australians support the introduction of same-sex marriage, with just 21% opposed, despite continued opposition within the government.
The figures had been markedly surprising, given the previous high had been 64% support.
However, data released by Newspoll confirms the findings, with a second poll finding that marriage equality has 68% support, with 4 out of 10 strongly in favour.
Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said: “Newspoll has confirmed what we already knew from the Crosby Textor research, the community debate on marriage equality is over and it’s time for politicians to act.”
“We call on MPs to work together across party boundaries to achieve a reform the Australian people are firmly behind in ever greater numbers.”
AME deputy director, Ivan Hinton said “A great majority of Australians have opened their hearts to the issue of marriage equality, realising it will bring benefits to many families around the country and causes no harm to no one.”
Three years ago 49% of people were in favour of same-sex marriage, and 40% opposed, while a decade ago just 38% supported marriage equality.
The governing Liberal party has long opposed equal marriage, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott giving his backing to the successful fight to end the brief recognition of same-sex marriage in the Australian Capital Territory last year.
