Celebrities recruited in the marriage equality push as poll reveals even people who agree with the policy say it won’t influence their vote.
On Sunday the Labor Party will launch its first campaign on marriage equality, complete with letterboxed advertisements, online video and celebrity endorsements.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced during the first leaders’ debate that he would introduce a marriage-equality bill within 100 days if Labor were re-elected.
The party followed this with a social media campaign on gay marriage, called “It’s time”.
On Sunday it will ramp up the campaign.
Pop celebrities Ricki-Lee, the Veronicas, Fun Machine, and Darren Hayes from Savage Garden have endorsed the campaign.
Finance Minister Penny Wong, who is in an openly gay partnership, said the issue of marriage equality had a greater focus in this election because so many Australians believed it was time.
“As a nation, we have always progressed towards greater equality, and marriage equality would be another important step in ensuring all Australians are treated equally,” Senator Wong said “The ‘It’s time’ campaign is all about sharing our stories – whether gay or straight, married or unmarried, young or old – and sharing why marriage equality is important to Australians.
“For the first time, Australia has a prime minister who supports marriage equality.
Hopefully, with growing support through the ‘It’s time’ campaign, we will see Tony Abbott agree to give his Liberal colleagues a conscience vote on this most personal of issues.
Because that is the only way Australia will finally achieve marriage equality.”
Long-time gay rights campaigner Jamie Gardiner said same-sex marriage legislation would be both symbolic and meaningful.
He said not all gay couples wanted to get married, but all agreed they should have the right to.
“Marriage equality is necessary because it is a crucial symbolic and emotionally important ending of discrimination. It is a reminder of what needs to be done in the future,” he said.
“This issue is now a major point of difference between the two leaders in this election.”
A majority of Australians continue to support legalising same-sex marriage but they do not rate it as an issue that will decide their vote at the election.
A national Fairfax Nielsen Poll conducted from Sunday, August 18, to Thursday, August 22, surveyed 2545 people across the country and found support growing for legalised marriage equality.
Sixty-five per cent of respondents supported legalising marriage between same-sex couples, up 8 points since December 2011, while only 28 per cent were opposed (down 7 points).
Support was greater among women (75 per cent) than men (55 per cent) and greater among younger voters than older voters.
But when asked how important same-sex marriage was in deciding their vote, 57 per cent of respondents said it was “not important at all”.
Even among those who supported legalising same-sex marriage, 49 per cent said the issue was “not important at all” in deciding their vote. Sixteen per cent said was “very important”.
Asked whether MPs should vote on the issue in Parliament according to their conscience or according to party policy, 82 per cent preferred a conscience vote (up 1 point).
Only 15 per cent said politicians should toe the party line.
Photo: Rohan Thomson
Author: Chris Johnson
Publication: theage.com.au
Date: 24 August 2013