Same sex marriage: Electorates return YES vote for Central Coast
CENTRAL Coast voters have exceeded the national average, overwhelmingly voting YES to same sex marriage.
Central Coast
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AUSTRALIA has voted YES to marriage equality, and the Central Coast statistics are higher than the national average.
The electorates of Dobell and Robertson have recorded a 65.7 per cent ‘yes’ vote, compared with the national result of 61.6 per cent and the NSW result of 57.8 per cent in favour.
Central Coast champion highland dancer and gay man Doug McFarland said he felt a “sense of relief”.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling. Happiness has come as a result of people being asked to vote on our lifestyle,” he said.
Mr McFarland said he and his partner of six and a half years Joshua Lucas have had a tough time over the past six weeks.
“In the community we’ve always lived a happy life until the last six weeks where we have been verbally abused and had our safety threatened. I’ve never seen anything like that before.
“However, we do need to focus on the positives. We have had a high yes response in the Robertson electorate.”
PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Central Coast co-ordinator Helen Robertson said the group was “absolutely thrilled”.
“We have been very active going to rallies at Terrigal, Gosford and in the city, and many members have been travelling to Canberra for many years,” she said.
Mrs Robertson said the group hoped local MPs will take note of the Central Coast results, and vote with the region.
“It’s a very strong indication, the electors are very much in support of marriage equality,” she said.
She said the survey had been a tough time for young people who have recently come out or haven’t yet come out.
“They have been hearing a lot of negative comments in the media and it’s been hard on their mental health,” she said.
Robertson federal Liberal MP Lucy Wicks said she will reflect the results of the marriage equality survey, and vote yes when the legislation goes through Parliament.
“I am committed to my position that I would respect and reflect the result of the survey in my vote in Parliament,” she said.
Mrs Wicks said she was proud of the high rate of participation with eight out of 10 people having their say.
“It’s an incredible tribute to Australia. I am proud of the enormous participation,” she said.
Labor candidate for Robertson Anne Charlton said the high yes vote for the Robertson electorate was a “phenomenal success”.
“The people of Robertson have spoken loudly and proudly that we have a community that supports everyone in the community,” she said.
She also said it was a survey Australia didn’t need to happen and it was a “terrible waste of money” that could have gone to local charities.
Dobell federal Labor MP Emma McBride said, “As someone with a strong belief in equal rights I will vote for legislation so same-sex couples can marry the person they love in the country they love. This can be done before Christmas. It’s time”.