“To avoid a plebiscite, marriage equality advocates must continue to educate the public about how a free vote in parliament is the most appropriate and effective way forward.”Related: A marriage equality plebiscite is not inevitable any more. A new poll has found that only 48% of Australians back a marriage equality plebiscite, casting doubt over the government’s claim the “overwhelming majority” of Australians back the idea. Nash committed to vote in line with the result of the plebiscite when marriage equality was voted on in the parliament. Galaxy asked 1,000 Australian voters “regardless of your views on same-sex marriage” whether they support or oppose a national plebiscite to decide whether same-sex couples should be able to marry. Marriage equality researcher from the University of Queensland, Sharon Dane, has questioned that result “because the question was not specific to the issue of allowing same-sex couples to marry”.

Source: The Guardian July 20, 2016 23:00 UTC