same sex marriage, Voting 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.
same sex marriage, Voting 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)
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%).