It was ten years ago tomorrow that the first poll showed majority support for marriage equality in Australia.

The polling, commissioned by activist group GetUp! and published in June 2007, found that 57 per cent of Australians agreed that gay couples should be allowed to get married, with 37 per cent opposed.

On the poll’s 10th anniversary, marriage equality advocates have called on the federal government to drop the plebiscite on the reform and have a free vote instead.

Advertisements

“On June 21, 2007 a Fairfax poll showed 57% support for marriage equality, the first time a poll had returned majority backing for the reform in Australia,” Just.equal spokesperson and long-time marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome said.

“Every single one of the scores of polls conducted over the last decade has confirmed the result of that 2007 poll – a majority of Australians back marriage equality – with some polls showing support as high as 72%.

“With majority support for marriage equality so clear and so unshakable, it’s absurd for the Government to stick to its policy of an expensive and divisive plebiscite.”

Croome said the issue could be resolved tomorrow with a cross-party free vote in Parliament.

“We know what Australians think, so let’s get on with it,” he said.

Last week, Queensland Liberal MP and marriage equality supporter Warren Entsch said he “hopes and expects” the Coalition party room will revisit their position on the reform “very shortly.”

“We have been working on this for a while now. I would hope and expect that it’s going to come to some discussion very shortly,” he told News Corp.

“All I want to do is to have the opportunity of putting my vote. If they want to say ‘no’ that’s fine [but] we’re getting close to a point where we’re ready for it.”