Nicholls backs business freedom

QUEENSLAND is considered a conservative state, but delivered a resounding 60.7 per cent vote in support of legalising same- sex marriage.

Even several conservative seats, which polls have previously indicated a “No” vote, such as Wright, returned a solid “Yes” vote.

Dickson, the seat of Minister Peter Dutton who was the architect of the survey, returned a 65.2 per cent “Yes” vote, even stronger than the national average.

While it was not surprising inner- city seats of Brisbane ( LNP), Griffith ( Labor) and Ryan ( LNP) recorded the highest vote in support, all above 70 per cent, there were shocks in some regional electorates.

Dawson, home of conservative George Christensen, returned 55.1 per cent for “Yes”.

Only two LNP seats, Maranoa ( 56.1 per cent) and Groom ( 50.8), saw a “No” vote returned, as did the far north seat of Kennedy, held by Bob Katter who once promised to “walk backwards from Bourke to Brisbane” if a gay person lived in his electorate.

Brisbane recorded the highest “Yes” vote in Queensland of 79.5 per cent – the fifth highest in the country behind Sydney ( 83.7), Melbourne ( 83.7), and NSW’s Wentworth ( 80.8) and Grayndler ( 79.9).

Former prime minister Tony Abbott led the “No” campaign, but his NSW electorate of Warringah had a high vote of 75 per cent supporting same- sex marriage. There was a strong participation rate across Queensland, with 77.9 per cent of eligible voters taking part, compared with the 79.5 per cent nationally. There were 1.48 million Queenslanders who voted “Yes” while 961,015 voted “No”. WHILE Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the postal survey result and slapped down suggestions businesses should have the right to refuse service to people in same- sex relationships, Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said it was up to businesses to decide whether or not they want to serve gay couples.

“I think all businesses will make their own decisions in relation to who they want to provide services for and it should be over to them to make those calls,” he said.

But Ms Palaszczuk said Aus- tralia had anti- discrimination n laws that should be abided by.

“It is absolutely imperative now that this decision has been made that everyone respects the decision because we lieve in equality,” she said.

But Mr Nicholls said it was up to businesses to decide be- Participation rates: males 69.4%, females 74.7% whether they would serve gay couples.

Ms Palaszczuk called on PM P Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to work together.

“We live in a progressive modern state and a progressive modern nation and I firmly believe people across this state will embrace the nation’s decision,” she said.

Mr Nicholls ( pictured) would not be drawn on whether the “Yes” vote winning was a good result for Queensland, despite voting “Yes” himself.

“I think the people have had the opportunity to register their opinion through the survey, now it’s up to the people in Canberra to make the decisions,” he said.

Geoff Candy and Peter Nicholls, a couple of 15 years, celebrated with champagne.

Mr Candy said he could not imagine how Australia would have moved forward if the results favoured no.

“I found ( the same- sex marriage survey) very hurtful and unnecessary,” Mr Candy said.

“Peter has proposed to me three times. I’ve said no – until it counts in our country, I am not interested.”

The couple believe legalising same- sex marriage would make all the difference for the next generation.