Over the last few months, Australia has hosted a plebiscite in the form of a postal vote to decide whether or not marriage equality should be the law of the land in Australia. Despite being a mail-in survey, the results were overwhelming November 14.
“12,727,920 million people participated in the voluntary survey – representing 79.5 per cent of the more than 16 million eligible Australians,” according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The result of the popular vote does not make the law binding, however. The decision is now on to Parliament.
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“Now it is up to us, here in the Parliament of Australia to get on with it, to get on with the job the Australian people have tasked us to do, and get this done. This year. Before Christmas,” said Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
On top of the exciting news, the postal vote comes with another win for Australia.
“In addition, while costs are still being tallied, the ABS is confident the final cost for the survey will be under $100 million, many million dollars less than the available budget,” said David Kalisch, head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Featured image via Johnny Weir
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