The Greens have welcomed the results of a new poll showing three in five Australians support the right of same-sex couples to marry, saying the federal parliament must catch up with public opinion and move to make same-sex marriage legal.

The poll, commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and conducted by Galaxy, found that 60 per cent of Australians believe that same-sex couples should be able to marry in Australia, and that 58 per cent believe that Australian law should recognise same-sex marriages that are legal in other countries.

“The Greens welcome this poll as proof that the community are streets ahead of the parliament in recognising the rights of same-sex couples to marry,” said Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Sexuality and Gender Identity.

“The Rudd Government consistently refers back to its touchstone of reflecting ‘public opinion’ as its reason for opposing same-sex marriage, but this poll flies in the face of that excuse.”

The poll results were launched today in Parliament House by Senator Hanson-Young and Greens Leader Bob Brown, with Rodney Croome and Peter Furness from Australian Marriage Equality.

“While in the past year there have been some historic leaps forward in terms of removing discrimination against same-sex couples in Australian law, there remains one glaring omission from those advances – marriage,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

“Legislative reform must continue until same-sex couples enjoy full marriage equality.

“It is ridiculous that someone who was married in Canada can step off the plane at Sydney International Airport and have their marriage considered invalid under Australian law.

“The ALP should ensure legal recognition of the rights of same-sex couples to marry is an agenda item for discussion at their National Conference next month.” 

Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens would push on with their efforts to legalise same-sex marriage.

“The Greens have long campaigned to ensure same-sex couples enjoy equal marriage rights, and will continue moving amendments to Australia’s discriminatory Marriage Act until true equality is achieved,” she said.