Women and youth drive same-sex marriage vote

ALMOST 100,000 Australians enrolled to vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey before the deadline. But who are they?

WOMEN and young people will drive the same-sex marriage vote, judging by who added their name to the electoral roll in the run-up to the survey.

There were 98,193 sign-ups between the announcement of the survey on August 8 and the registration deadline of August 24, according to figures published by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Of these, 66 per cent, or 65,274, were aged between 18 and 24. While young Australians are more likely than older people to not already be enrolled to vote, the fact this effect is seen up to the age of 24 suggests many were inspired by the issue of marriage equality — particularly as taking part is not compulsory. Just 5006 over-50s enrolled to vote.

Female enrolments also far outnumbered male, with 57,152 women registering to just 40,907 men. A further 134 were of indeterminate sex.

US hip-hop artist Macklemore waved the flag for equality by performing his gay anthem at the 2017 NRL Grand Final in Sydney on Sunday. Picture: Brett Costello

The state with the highest proportion of new enrolments was Queensland, where 23,628 people registered to vote — bringing the electorate to 3,150,803. New South Wales had the lowest proportion of enrolments at 22,904, bringing the electorate to 5,187,666.

Victoria had the most new registrations at 26,952, bringing its voter numbers to 4,061,354.

It means the national enrolment participation rate is at a high of 96 per cent, according to the AEC, although some disabled Australians have complained about being struck off the electoral roll.

The youth effect was in clear evidence at the NRL Grand Final in Sydney on Sunday, where hip-hop artist Macklemore played gay anthem Same Love to fans ahead of the game as giant screens displayed “We stand for diversity”, “We stand for inclusiveness” and “We stand for equality”.

A progressive Anglican reverend from Perth has seen an outpouring of support after he was suspended for “tones of blasphemy” in his social media and theatre performances. A stream of callers rang talkback radio today to praise stand-up comedian and same-sex marriage activist Father Chris Bedding, also a vocal advocate for asylum seeker rights.

Perth Bishop Kate Wilmot stressed the irreverent reverend had been suspended due to “clergy discipline”, pending a decision by the church’s professional standards board.

Gay couples were able to marry in Germany for the first time this weekend after a law passed by parliament in June came into effect. Picture: Steffi Loos/Getty Images

On the other side of the coin, a Tasmanian Labor senator who revealed she was voting against same-sex marriage was warned she would cost her party votes at the next federal election. Helen Polley told The Australian she was under pressure from colleagues to publicly change her position on the issue or she “could be responsible for losing the next federal election.”

Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh said the party allowed members a free vote on the issue and the majority will be voting yes. He was confident the postal survey, which closes on November 7, will be successful. The results will be released on November 15 and will be followed by a conscience vote in Parliament.

Same-sex couples married in Germany this weekend for the first time, with several dozen couples tying the knot at civil registry offices opened to mark the coming into force of a law passed by parliament in June.