Nationwide, 62% now support same-sex marriage, but voters list key priorities for new government as health, national security and reducing unemployment

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Support for marriage equality has increased since the federal election with the latest Essential poll showing strong national support at 62%, up four percentage points since July.

But nearly two-thirds of Australians do not want the federal government to provide funding for the “yes” and “no” campaigns in the lead-up to a same-sex marriage plebiscite, if one is held.

The latest Essential poll, released on Tuesday, found the most important issues for the Turnbull government to address over the next 12 months were the health system (45%), national security and terrorism (37%), unemployment (31%), tax avoidance by big companies (31%) and housing affordability (31%).

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But it also asked a number of questions about issues that have dominated federal politics in recent weeks.

On foreign investment, it found the treasurer, Scott Morrison, may have broad public support for his decision to reject the sale of the New South Wales electricity distributor, Ausgrid, to Chinese bidders.



By a factor of more than two to one, respondents said foreign investment in real estate (54%), infrastructure (45%) and agriculture (44%) was bad for the Australian economy.

Respondents were also more likely to think foreign investment in Australian ports was bad for the economy (37% bad/23% good), while they were split on the benefits of foreign investment in mining (28% bad/27% good).

The survey, based on 1,002 respondents, was conducted online from the 19 to 22 August – just days after Morrison rejected the Ausgrid sale.

The survey was still being conducted on Monday when Morrison called on Australia’s superannuation funds to consider investing in Ausgrid now that he had stopped two Chinese bidders from purchasing the asset.

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But the poll found there was growing support for marriage equality in Australia.

Alex Greenwich, the chair of Australian Marriage Equality, said it was good to see it had increased since the election.



“Politicians have a responsibility to reflect this strong support and legislate for marriage equality as soon as possible,” Greenwich said on Tuesday.

“This is an issue about people, not politics, and we must remember that this straightforward reform is about families, neighbours, friends and workmates and our shared Australian values of fairness for all.”

The prime minister’s office confirmed on Sunday the government had received advice from the Australian Electoral Commission not to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage this year.



The government now plans to hold a plebiscite in February 2017 to decide whether marriage equality should be legalised in Australia.

The poll also asked if respondents believed there was fairly conclusive evidence that climate change was happening and was caused by human activity.

Fifty-seven per cent of respondents said they agreed, down from 63% in March, but 26% said we may just be witnessing a normal fluctuation in the Earth’s climate, down from 27% in March.

The number of respondents who said they don’t know was 17%, up from 10% in March.