The survey, funded by Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays in partnership with just.equal, showed sky-high opposition among LGBTI Australians to refusal-of-service exemptions targeted exclusively at same-sex couples, whether applied to civil celebrants, private businesses, or employees at a government marriage registry.

Targeted same-sex couple exemptions for religious celebrants – which would be on top of an existing provision stating religious ministers do not have to marry any couple – were opposed by 60% of respondents.

The results come as a Senate committee considers religious and conscientious exemptions to same-sex marriage as part of an inquiry into the government's draft Marriage Amendment bill, released in October last year.

The draft bill proposes exemptions specifically for same-sex weddings for religious ministers, civil celebrants, and religious organisations that might provide wedding services – for example, a Catholic school hall that is available to rent.

The online survey, which ran from January 6 to January 15, collected 6342 responses from LGBTI Australian citizens and residents aged 18 and over.

Each respondent was asked to rate their level of agreement with six potential exemptions: civil celebrants; military chaplains; employees of the registry of birth, deaths and marriages; private businesses; faith-based agencies; and religious organisations.



Respondents were then asked the same questions again, but with the caveat of whether they would accept the exemption in order to see same-sex marriage pass in this term of government.