With 61.6 per cent voting yes, Australians have supported marriage equality for people of the same sex.
Bligh Park’s David Briggs was at the big gathering of same sex marriage supporters at Prince Alfred Park in Surry Hills on Wednesday morning when the results were announced and said he was “ecstatic” at the result.
“This is a monumental victory for dignity and equality,” he said. “I'm thinking of all the young LGBTIQ people today who can stand proud in the knowledge the majority of people love and accept them.
“Now, we need to make sure the government delivers marriage equality without discrimination.”
In our electorate of Macquarie we had a higher Yes vote than the national average, with 64 per cent saying Yes, and 36 per cent saying No.
More women returned the survey than men (85% to 80%) in Macquarie. Older people were more likely to have returned their survey too in our electorate – 90 per cent of those over 65 voted, while only 77 per cent of those 18-24 years old did.
The highest Yes vote nationally was in the ACT with 74 per cent. NSW overall was 58 per cent Yes.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Australian people have spoken clearly and want politicians to act, that the directive was “unequivocal, it is overwhelming. They are our masters. It is up to us to get on with it".
He indicated he wanted the legislation passed by Christmas.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said "Yes, yes, yes! What a fabulous day to be an Australian. Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we legislate."
The Gazette has asked Macquarie MP Susan Templeman for a comment.
