Same sex marriage verdict a rare win for Malcolm Turnbull

The High Court decision on the same sex postal survey is good news for Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP

The High Court’s decision to allow the same sex marriage postal survey gives Malcolm Turnbull some political breathing space.

A rejection of the survey would have dramatically heightened the pressure on Mr Turnbull - already a Prime Minister fighting for survival.

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The High Court announced this afternoon that it had dismissed two challenges against the survey.

It is an indication of how fragile Mr Turnbull’s grasp on the Prime Ministership has become that he needed the High Court to reject the applications against the survey.

Had the High Court upheld the applications, Mr Turnbull would have worn the chaos of an issue raising emotions in the electorate.

This would have exacerbated the tensions inside the coalition - even the Cabinet is divided on the issue.

The process by which Australians will register their views on same sex marriage is already a messy one.

No group, it seems, is happy with the current process.

Malcolm Turnbull checks his phone as he waits on news from the High Court. Picture: Kym Smith

Those who support same sex marriage want, in the main, for the Federal Parliament to vote on the issue, believing that a majority of members will support a change to the Marriage Act.

Those who oppose same sex marriage say an institution as old as marriage should not be decided by public opinion.

Both sides argue that the survey is a waste of $122 million at a time when the nation’s budgetary situation continues to deteriorate.

Australians now will be sent a survey in coming weeks asking whether they approve a change to the Marriage Act from the current definition that marriage is between a man and a woman.

The results of the survey will be known on November 15.