Support for marriage equality growing: Greens

Submitted by Louise Sales on Wed, 08/06/2011 - 15:20

The Australian Greens are heartened by the results of a new Galaxy poll which shows most respondents believe it is inevitable that federal laws will change to allow marriage equality.

The survey of more than 1,000 Australians was commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

"Today's poll confirms what those of us campaigning on this issue for sometime already know, the community recognises that marriage equality is an idea whose time has come. It is now time for the government and old parties to catch up," Greens' marriage equality spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said today.

"With 75 per cent recognising that this reform will happen, it is no longer a question of if but when."

The survey found 80 percent of women agreed that marriage equality is "inevitable", compared to 71 percent of men.

"This is an issue that has dogged Julia Gillard since she became Prime Minister," Sen. Hanson-Young said. "It was raised in every forum of the federal election. Twelve months later, it still won't go away. She can end what is becoming a political headache by giving all Labor members a conscience vote on this issue."

The Greens' marriage equality bill is currently before parliament. The Greens again call on Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott to allow their party members a conscience vote on the matter.