Shire Votes Yes members are celebrating today after the same-sex marriage postal survey results were handed down.
Australians emphatically voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage, saying "yes" to the historic social change by a substantial margin of 61.6 per cent to 38.4 per cent.
Almost 80 per cent of eligible voters participated in the unprecedented voluntary postal survey, giving the verdict an authority unmatched by most elections globally.
In the Cook electorate 55 per cent of people voted Yes while in the Hughes electorate 58.4 per cent of people voted Yes.
Shire Yotes Yes organiser Courtney Lawes is one of the countless people across the nation celebrating after the decision was handed down.
“It’s just amazing, fantastic,’’ she said.
“Today we’re celebrating but tomorrow our job is to make sure our local politicians follow the wishes of the electorate and pass these laws.’’
The organisation was formed earlier in the campaign over a wine between three friends.
“We were worried about how many young people weren’t eligible to vote,’’ she said.
“We set up a stall at Cronulla Mall and got as many people as we could to sign up to vote.’’
The group started it’s own Facebook page with more than 40 volunteers handing out flyers and calling residents.
She said she was amazed with the feedback.
“It was amazing to see the impact we’ve had, it shows even doing the small things matter,’’ she said.
“It shows the power of doing something, even if you’re not normally a political person.’’
The group now plans to contact Cook MP Scott Morrison and Hughes MP Craig Kelly for their support to a bill proposed by Liberal Senator Dean Smith.
The result wasn’t nearly as favourable across the St George electorates.
In the seat of Banks 55.1 per cent of people voted No while in Barton 56.4 per cent of people voted No.
The two were among only 17 electorates to have a majority no vote.
Federal MP for Barton Linda Burney said in a tweet she had supported the Yes vote.
“It’s clear there are a range of views on this issue, including in my electorate, and I respect each and everyone’s opinion. But I made it clear long ago, that I support marriage equality and I will vote for it in the Parliament,’’ the tweet said.
Demographic factors help explain the sharp differences in response to the marriage survey across the city.
Census data shows that electorates with a strong majority of No voters also have a large population share with a religious affiliation,
Oatley resident Jo Robinson told the Leader she was disappointed with that result.
“My husband and I are absolutely gutted to find we live in an electorate where 55 per cent of the submitted votes on same sex marriage were in the negative,’’ she said.
“To realise that so many of our 'neighbours' don't believe in equality for all Australian's is shameful.’’
