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A mural of pop legend George Michael has been defaced in Sydney after Australia voted in favour of same-sex marriage.

A witness told the Mirror how two men arrived in a car armed with tins of black paint, a roller and suits.

One proceeded to vandalise the memorial while the other filmed on his mobile phone despite the protests of onlookers.

When questioned the man painting said the mural, whcih featured George Michael wearing religious robes and smoking a marijuana joint, was "sacrilegious".

He added: "It's not right that people can paint whatever they want and incite religious hatred."

Campaigners say a number of murals have been defaced since Australia's historic vote in favour of gay marriage earlier this week.

(Image: MH Productions) (Image: MH Productions) (Image: MH Productions)

Another piece of art featuring the former Prime Minister Toby Abbot and Cardinal George Pell on the side of a hotel was attacked with black paint by a man who said it was "hate speech."

They are believed to have been encouraged by a campaign group called Christian Lives Matter who posted on Facebook that such images are "offensive, discriminatory and pornographic."

Witnesses tried to disrupt the men attacking the George Michael mural by tipping over their roller trays.

(Image: MH Productions) (Image: MH Productions)

But the man simply picked up the tins and threw his paint at the wall.

Police were called and the man was given a court summons, the Mirror understands.

It comes after Australia voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage by 61.6% to 38.4%.

(Image: MH Productions) (Image: MH Productions)

The postal survey saw 16 million registered voters among Australia's population of 24 million asked for their views on overturning the prohibition.

With a turnout of 79.5%, the vote had a bigger turnout than the Brexit referendum and US presidential election.

As the majority voted in favour, the parliament will vote by December on legislation to lift the prohibition.

(Image: Getty) (Image: DAVID CROSLING/EPA) (Image: DAVID CROSLING/EPA) (Image: DAVID CROSLING/EPA)

Australian statistician David Kalisch announced the results in the country's capital Canberra, with 7,817,247 of the ballots cast saying yes, compared to 4,873,987 opposed to the idea.

Across all six states in Australia, the yes vote won - ranging from 64.9% in Victoria to 57.8% in New South Wales - and both the Northern Territory (60.6%) and Australian Capital Territory (74%) voted in favour of the proposal.

(Image: DAVID CROSLING/EPA) (Image: Getty) (Image: DAVID CROSLING/EPA)

What happened - and what happens next?

The first ballot papers hit doormats across Australia in September in a vote which has seen a bigger turnout than the Brexit referendum and US presidential election.

Costing 122 million Australian dollars (£71 million), the poll saw 16 million registered voters among Australia's population of 24 million asked for their opinion on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to wed.

As the majority voted in favour - 61.6% - the parliament will vote by December on legislation to lift the prohibition.

(Image: Getty) (Image: DAVID CROSLING/EPA)

But several politicians have previously said they would vote against same-sex couples being able to wed regardless of public opinion.

The poll - unlike electoral voting which is mandatory in Australia - was voluntary, but the varying campaigns have ignited public debate.

Alex Greenwich, from the Equality Campaign who backed a Yes vote, said: "Our campaign has worked hard to bring Australians together and achieving marriage equality will be a unifying moment for our nation as we include everyone in our marriage laws."

Speaking before the results were announced, he said: "Let's get this done so we can all move forward as a fairer and more inclusive nation."

(Image: DAVID CROSLING/EPA)

The Coalition for Marriage campaign, which encouraged a No vote, said they would continue to fight to defend marriage.

Spokesman Lyle Shelton said: "Throughout the campaign we have spoken about the effect that a change in the Marriage Act will have on all Australians.

"It will be incumbent upon us to hold the 'yes' campaign to its pledge that there would be no consequences to a change in law... We will do what we can to guard against restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of religion, to defend parents' rights, and to protect Australian kids from being exposed to radical LGBTIQ sex and gender education in the classrooms."