TASMANIA SAYS I DO

We were shamefully late to the party. But we’ve changed. We’ve apologised. And now we’ve voted YES.

HUNDREDS of Tasmanian samesex couples could say their vows within months after the state — and the nation — resoundingly voted in favour of making marriage open to all.

More than 300,000 Tasmanians responded to the Government’s historic survey, with 63.6 per cent voting Yes — a higher result than the na- tional average of 61.6 per cent support. The local vote was highest in the inner-Hobart electorate of Denison.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he now wanted to pass same-sex marriage laws by Christmas, but made no firm commitment.

Tasmania’s most prominent gay rights campaigner Rodney Croome said the vote “conclusively shows Tasmania is an open, inclusive society and one that has put its dark past on these issues well and truly behind it”.

At the Cascade Hotel in Hobart, where the result was greeted with scenes of jubilation, James Mainwaring (pictured) said it was a relief that he would one day be able to marry.

HUNDREDS of Tasmanian same-sex couples could be lining up to be married after the historic “yes” vote, the state’s LGBTI community believes.

A wedding boom could be under way within weeks if the long-awaited reform is legislated after 61.6 per cent of Australians returned a “yes” vote.

“We’ll see quite a few hundred Tasmanian couples tying the knot,” campaigner Rodney Croome said.

“I would also expect to see quite a few couples from other states coming to Tasmania to marry because we’re a wonderful wedding destination.”

Gay Australians could be married before Christmas after the country endorsed samesex marriage through the nationwide postal survey.

It’s up to MPs now to legislate on same-sex marriage in the two weeks of Parliament left for the year but they’ve been warned to get it done without playing politics.

“Any of them, on either side of politics, if they play around with this issue any longer it will be at their own peril,” Olympic swimming champion and “yes” campaigner Ian Thorpe said amid celebrations in Sydney yesterday.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turbbull, a “yes” advocate, has vowed to comply, setting Christmas as the target.

“We asked them for their opinion and they have given it to us. It is unequivocal, it is overwhelming,” he said. “It is our job now to get on with it and get this done.”

A majority “yes” vote was recorded in 133 of 150 federal electorates across the country.

Tasmanians delivered a strong message in favour of the reform with a 63.6 per cent “yes” vote.

The state narrowly missed going it alone on same-sex marriage when then-premier Lara Giddings, with the Greens, introduced a Bill to State Parliament in 2012.

An economic windfall was one of the arguments for that attempt and Mr Croome said that was still on offer.

“I would see this actually as being a boon for the Tasmanian economy, not that that’s the reason it should happen, but it will be a wonderful side effect,” he said.

“Tasmania will benefit in many ways from this reform.”

News of the “yes” campaign’s success was greeted by jubilant scenes at a Hobart pub where hundreds of “yes” campaigners had gathered.

Couples embraced and tears were shed as the Australian Bureau of Statistics postal survey result was announced.

“That conclusively shows that Tasmania is an open, inclusive society and one that has put its dark past on these issues well and truly behind it,” said Mr Croome, a veteran of the state’s decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1997.

“Tasmanians have united for marriage equality today.”

Tasmanian religious leaders called for “conscientious objection” to be protected by legislation, backing conservative Liberal Senator James Paterson’s Bill.

“If there is a decision to change the legal definition of marriage, there are Australians — including many who voted ‘yes’- who believe that freedom of conscience and religion need to be protected,” Catholic Archbishop Julian Porteous said.

“These freedoms belong to all people, not just institutions or professional clergy.”

Anglican Bishop Richard Condie said organisations such as Anglicare and CatholicCare needed to continue operating within their values.

“No” vote campaigners the Coalition for Marriage vowed to fight on, hopeful the reform could yet be overturned.

“The thing the “no” campaign was representing was not wrong,” spokeswoman Karen Dickson said.

“So there’s no reason for us to pack up and go home.”

Ms Giddings paid tribute to campaigners, but said the Labor-Green move five years ago had helped pave the way for the Tasmanian vote.

“Our move in the Tasmanian Parliament did help to build momentum behind this national campaign,” she said.

Premier Will Hodgman and Opposition leader Rebecca White both welcomed the result.

Mr Croome urged legislators to quickly enact the reform, telling “no” voters they had nothing to fear.