A coalition of Australian businesses have taken out a full page ad in Rupert Murdoch’s The Australian newspaper to call on the Australian Government to finally allow same-sex couples to marry in Australia.

The add contained the logos of the more than fifty businesses and corporations and the slogan, ‘Corporate Australia supports marriage equality,’ with Westpac, BT Financial, St George, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, David Jones, Fitness First, Google, KPMG, Optus, PWC, Qantas, Slater & Gordon, Telstra and Virgin Money among the names taking part.

Also taking part is the Rupert Murdoch owned cable television company Foxtel, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, P&O Cruises Australia, the SBS television network and the Football Federation Australia.

The companies have also signed a letter of support calling on the Australian Parliament to finally act on the reform.

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) campaign national director Rodney Croome thanked the business community for their support and called on other leading businesses in Australia to declare their support via the website www.corpsupport.org.au.

‘I applaud Australia’s business community for its leadership on marriage equality, and for the powerful message it is sending to our federal representatives about moving forward quickly on the reform,’ Croome said.

‘The business community’s support for marriage equality reflects the importance it places on treating all staff and customers with equal respect, and of maintaining Australia’s positive reputation overseas.

‘The 72 per cent of Australians who support marriage equality will look with pride on those businesses who are reflecting their values, and expect parliament to do the same.’

It is widely being predicted that same-sex marriage will be legal in Australia before the year’s end – with even Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s own sister saying she expects to be able to marry before the end of 2015.