Most Australians see gay marriage future

Three out of four Australians believe the law will eventually be changed to allow same-sex marriage, a poll showed Wednesday, prompting activists to renew their call for gay weddings. The Galaxy poll, commissioned by lobby group Australian Marriage Equality and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, questioned 1,052 adults on whether gay marriage was just a matter of time. "Three in four of Australians say that it is inevitable that eventually the law will change in Australia to allow same-sex couples to marry," it found. Australian Marriage Equality national convener Alex Greenwich said most Australians already supported gay marriage, and the latest survey confirmed the public's growing acceptance of reform. "Australians have had the discussion, they have had the conversation, and they are either supportive of it or have accepted that it will happen," he told AFP. Greenwich said support for gay marriage had soared over the past decade, reaching about 62 percent according to a 2010 Galaxy poll, compared with a 30 percent support level six years earlier. Gay marriage is currently banned under Australian law and opposed by both major political parties, but in November lawmakers agreed to canvass public opinion on the issue, which was repeatedly raised during the 2010 election. The left-wing Greens, a key partner in Prime Minister Julia Gillard's minority coalition government, want a conscience vote on the issue, arguing there is widespread public support for a change to marriage laws. Gillard, who is herself unmarried, has repeatedly said that she believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.