Government insiders suggest SSM could be a reality by Christmas
Image: Rainbow Walk - Bondi to Bronte. Image: Ann-Marie Calilhanna.
Same sex couples could get married in Australia as early as mid-December, if a private member’s bill on marriage equality is voted on before the end of the parliamentary year.
The news comes after government insiders have suggested the postal survey will see the Yes vote above 60 per cent and the No vote above 30 per cent, according to a report in the .
If this is the case, Senator Dean Smith’s bill will likely pass parliament with bipartisan support, and federal MP Trevor Evans has said he would be happy to keep parliamentarians in Canberra later this year until a vote is brought on.
“We have always hoped to resolve the question of same sex marriage before the end of the year,” Evans said.
“The survey results will be announced on November 15 and if the majority of Australians vote Yes, the parliament will be able to legislate before Christmas.
“I, for one, would be happy for parliament to stay back and keep working until this issue is resolved, if necessary.”
A majority of parliamentarians have already pledged to support a bill on marriage equality if a Yes vote is triumphant.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is set to release its latest estimate on the number of surveys received later today.
