Responses to several questions around this theme confirmed that a clear majority of people feel that the traditional meaning of marriage is important, that it is the best way to ensure that children are raised by their mother and father and that a child will usually grow up happier if he or she has a home with both a mother and a father. Nearly 70 per cent of Australians believe that marriage between a man and a woman and their having children together is an important social institution that should be upheld. Three out of four respondents, including a surprising majority of those in favour of same-sex marriage, believe that as a society we should try to ensure that children are raised by their natural mother and father and promote this norm.

A substantial proportion of Australians are also concerned about the possibility of changes to the Marriage Act having unintended consequences. Respondents were less likely to support same-sex marriage when they reflected on possible consequences such as a greater severing of links between biological parents and their children, more children growing up without having both father and mother role models, the mandatory teaching in schools of the equivalence of homosexual and heterosexual lifestyles, and the silencing of those who desire to speak out against same-sex marriage on the basis of their deeply held beliefs.

Even one-third of those in favour of same-sex marriage are concerned that a significant social change is involved and agree that we should not rush into this without knowing the real impact, especially on children.

Those in favour of changing the Marriage Act were also less enthusiastic when asked about how such a change may diminish a person's right to speak out against same-sex marriage. While there was almost universal agreement about the importance of upholding the right to free speech one in four people opposed to same-sex marriage felt social pressure to remain silent.

Unsurprisingly, the religious are more opposed to same-sex marriage than the non-religious, those over 50 are less supportive, women are more supportive than men and a majority of Labor and a minority of Coalition voters favour a change.