Current Affairs

Actress Magda Szubanski says ‘some did not survive’ the Australian same-sex marriage vote

  • Nov 29 2017
  • Written by Josh Milton

“It’s hard to convey how inconceivable [same-sex marriage] was to people of my generation” (Cole Bennetts/Getty Images)

Actress Magda Szubanski has emotionally railed against the Australian same-sex marriage postal vote, saying that some LGBT people “did not survive” the survey.

Speaking as the Senate debated the legalisation of same-sex marriage, Szubanski – who starred in TV show Kath & Kim – said the Australian government had treated LGBT people like “unwilling human guinea pigs in a political experiment”.

(Twitter/PressClubAust)

She voiced her relief that 62% of Australians had voted Yes, but told the National Press Club: “We may never know the exact human cost of this experiment.

“The truth is some of us did not survive this process.”

The prominent same-sex marriage advocate said that bringing to light the mental health impact of the survey was important.

(James Alcock/Getty Images)

After such a turbulent, difficult period, she said that the country needed to move quickly to legalise equal marriage and reflect the will of the people.

“In purely political terms it was a landslide, and if yes was a political party we would now have a staggering majority of 100 seats,” she said.

“We have done our job. Now,” she added, referring to lawmakers, “they must do theirs.”

When asked if the ends justified the means, Szubanksi said it was a difficult question.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: People in the crowd celebrate as the result is announced during the Official Melbourne Postal Survey Result Announcement at the State Library of Victoria on November 15, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. Australians have voted for marriage laws to be changed to allow same-sex marriage, with the Yes vote defeating No. Despite the Yes victory, the outcome of Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey is not binding, and the process to change current laws will move to the Australian Parliament in Canberra. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

(Getty)

“Knowing that 62% of people wanted this is an amazing feeling but would I trade that for the suffering? I don’t know.

“Who can make that call?” she asked.

“This was a happy outcome but if a vote is ever put to the people like this again, I plead with you, do it better than this was done.”

Calls to LGBT+ help lines rose 300% during the debate over recent months.

Her speech came while the same-sex marriage bill was being debated in the Senate where it passed 43 votes to 12.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is on course to meet his pledge of legislating for the historic social reform before Christmas.

Watch Magda find out the Senate had passed Dean Smith’s same-sex marriage bill:

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