#Australia #Catches #Up #With #NZ

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/15/australian-pm-wants-marriage-equality-by-christmas-after-overwhelming-vote

The Australian parliament must commit to deliver marriage equality by Christmas, the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has said after an “unequivocal, overwhelming” vote of 61.6% in favour of same-sex marriage in an unprecedented national postal survey.

As nationwide celebrations heralded a result that will give enormous momentum to a final push to achieve the historic social reform, Turnbull moved to head off attempts from conservatives in his ruling Liberal-National Coalition to frustrate or delay the legislative process.

Turnbull said the survey – which had a participation rate of 79.5% – meant Australians had “spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality”.

“They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it, to get on with the job the Australian people asked us to do and get this done,” he said.