Marriage equality advocates have welcomed research commissioned by an anti-equality institute, saying it boosts their case.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said the research commissioned by the Ambrose Centre for Religious Liberty, which opposes same-sex marriage, confirms that a majority of Australians believe in marriage equality.
The founder and chairperson of the Ambrose Centre, Mr Rocky Mimmo, has previously stated that marriage equality would “defy the law of nature” and would be would be “mandating” “an illusion and an untruth” (details here).
Selective reporting of the Ambrose Centre research appeared in today’s Australian newspaper (details here).
“The Ambrose Centre research found that up to 64% of Australians believe same-sex couples should be allowed to marry”, Mr Greenwich said.
“When even dyed-in-the-wool opponents of equality find the majority of Australians are for marriage equality, we can be absolutely sure it’s true.”
“We also welcome the Ambrose Centre’s conclusion that the case against marriage equality will be weakened if there is scientific evidence children do not suffer from having same-sex parents.”
“This evidence is clear, and has led both the American and Australian Psychological Associations to conclude there is nothing wrong with a child have two parents of the same-sex.”
“As for the Ambrose Centre’s argument that voters feel marriage equality is less important than other issues and dislike the divisiveness associated with the debate; these are arguments for allowing marriage equality as soon as possible so the nation can move on.”
“I’m also pleased to see the Ambrose Centre has found that very few Australians feel the free speech of opponents of equality has been or will be curtailed, because this simply isn’t the case.”
Mr Greenwich dismissed some other Ambrose Centre’s findings as “cooked, contrived and inconsistent”.
“The Ambrose Centre found 49% support for “changing the definition of marriage” but this debate isn’t about changing marriage, it’s about extending it to include same-sex couples.”
“I also challenge the finding that marriage equality is a vote loser for the major parties.”
“That finding deliberately excluded those strong supporters of marriage equality who other surveys have found will shift their support from Labor to the Greens.”
“I find it inconsistent that on the one hand the Ambrose Centre says marriage equality is not an important issues for voters, but on the other hand it says the issue will change so many votes that it has the potential to bring down governments.”
“These kinds of contrived results are the hallmark of a survey designed to find what the commissioning body wants it to find.”
Surveys conducted by Nielsen and Galaxy have showing support for marriage equality at 62%, while a Galaxy Poll suggested Labor would receive a swing of betweem 5% and 7% is it back same-sex marriage.
The Ambrose Centre’s full report can be found here:
http://www.ambrosecentre.org.au/images/survey%20final%20report%20for%20web.pdf
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.