The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Jul, 2017

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    Same sex marriage

    Q. Do you think people of the same sex should or should not be allowed to marry?

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote Other Oct 2015 Mar 2016 Jul 2016 Aug 2016 Jun 2017 Jul 2017
    Should be allowed to marry 61% 72% 55% 74% 42% 59% 64% 58% 62% 60% 63%
    Should not be allowed to marry 26% 17% 32% 18% 46% 30% 26% 28% 27% 26% 25%
    Don’t know 13% 11% 13% 9% 12% 11% 10% 14% 12% 14% 12%

    61% thought that people of the same sex should be able to marry and 26% thought that they should not. Women (66% support) were more likely than men (56%) to support same sex marriage. 81% of 18-24 year olds supported same sex marriage, compared to 46% of over 65 year olds. These results are similar to those of polling over the last few years.

  • Jul, 2017

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    Decision on same sex marriage

    Q. How do you think a decision on legalising same sex marriage should be made?

      Total   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other Should be allowed to marry Should not be allowed to marry
    A vote in Parliament where politicians can vote according to their conscience or party policy 23%   28% 22% 39% 18% 29% 12%
    A national vote which is binding on Parliament 50%   49% 54% 33% 57% 53% 56%
    A non-binding national vote which is followed by a vote in parliament where politicians can vote according to their conscience or party policy 9%   9% 9% 11% 11% 8% 15%
    Don’t know 17%   14% 15% 17% 14% 10% 17%

     50% of respondents want a national vote that is binding on Parliament, 23% want a vote in Parliament without a national vote and only 9% want a national vote followed by a vote in Parliament.

    Those most likely to favour a vote in Parliament without a national vote were Greens voters (39%), aged 65+ (32%), university educated (29%) and those who support same-sex marriage (29%),

    Note – previous poll questions were asked with 2 options – Should be decided by Parliament 29%, Should have a national vote 59%, Don’t know 12%. (last polled July 2017)

  • Feb, 2015

    Voting for same sex marriage

    Q. If a political party or candidate supported same-sex marriage would you be more likely to vote for them, less likely to vote for them or does it make no difference to your vote?

     

    Total

     

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Vote Other

    More likely to vote for them

    26%

    32%

    13%

    67%

    25%

    Less likely to vote for them

    19%

    13%

    28%

    1%

    38%

    Makes no difference

    48%

    50%

    54%

    31%

    35%

    Don’t know

    6%

    5%

    5%

    1%

    2%

    26% say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate/party that supported same sex marriage, 19% say they would be less likely and 48% say it would make no difference to their vote.

    Those more likely include women (32%), aged 18-34 (42%) and university educated (34%).

    Those less likely include men (26%) and aged 65+ (31%).

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