Of the more than four million Australians who took part in the marriage law postal survey, 61.6 per cent supported changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry.
And the vote across the Central Coast is similar. The electorates of Dobell, Gilmore and Robertson recorded a majority ‘yes’ response.
The same sex bill, which is expected to come before parliament before the end of the year, has the unanimous support of the three electorates’ MPs.
This is despite Robertson MP Lucy Wicks’ personal opposition to same sex marriage.
The Liberal MP had previously expressed her view that “gender matters” when it came to marriage but said she would now “respect the yes vote of Australians in parliament.”
An overwhelming 65.7 per cent of people in her electorate, which covers Gosford, Woy Woy and Terrigal, voted in favour of same sex marriage.
“My position hasn't changed. While I voted ‘no’ in the survey and explained why, I will honour the voice of the majority of our community by voting ‘yes’ to change the law,” she said.
In neighboring Dobell, Labor’s Emma McBride said she would follow the 65.7 per cent of people in her electorate and vote yes in parliament.
“As someone with a strong belief in equal rights I will vote for legislation so same-sex couples can marry the person they love in the country they love,” she said.
“This can be done before Christmas. It's time.”
In the seat of Gilmore, which covers Kiama and Shoalhaven, 62 per cent of voters said same sex couples should be allowed to marry.
Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis said she would vote accordingly in parliament.
“The Gilmore people have indicated that they want a yes vote; I will support a yes vote,” she said.
Ms Sudmalis carried out her own survey two years ago, asking her electorate’s view on changing the marriage legislation. Of the 2445 respondents, 1552 people indicated they supported the change.
How the Central Coast voted
Dobell: 65.7 per cent yes, 34.3 no.
Gilmore:62 per cent yes, 38 no.
Robertson:65.7 per cent yes, 34.3 no.
