Controversial Aussie vote on same-sex marriage begins

SYDNEY: A contentious postal survey on same-sex marriage began in Australia, with ballots delivered across the vast continent ahead of an expected fractious campaign between the “yes” and “no” sides.

While there has been growing support for marriage equality, with 70% of those surveyed in a Fairfax Media poll yesterday backing the “yes” campaign, Australia has yet to legalise such unions despite more than a decade of political wrangling.

The conservative government chose an unusual approach – a voluntary and non-binding postal vote – after an election promise of a national plebiscite was twice rejected by parliament’s upper house, the Senate.

If most Australians vote “yes” to same-sex marriage, the government will move to hold a parliamentary free vote on changing the marriage laws.

It will not do so if there is a “no” outcome.

“I encourage everyone to fill in the survey. I’ll be voting ‘yes’ as will (my wife) Lucy,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told commercial radio this week.