Poll Most Australians for Marriage Equality

A new poll shows that 57% of Australians favor making marriage equality the law of the land.

The Age/Nielsen poll was taken this week as parliament voted to support a Greens-backed proposal to engage constituents in conversation on the issue. Prime Minister Julia Gillard remains opposed to marriage equality, but some of her Labor Party members joined their Green governing partners to support the constituent engagement proposal.

"The national poll of 1400, taken from Thursday to Saturday, found those in the ALP trying to liberalise its stand on gay marriage are tapping into community opinion - only 37 per cent opposed legalising same-sex marriage," reported The Age.

"Two-thirds of Labor voters backed legalisation and nearly nine in 10 Greens supporters. But Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan yesterday added his voice to those against change.

"Just over half the Coalition voters (51 per cent) were against legalising - with 42 per cent in favour. Apart from Queensland, there was clear majority support across the mainland."

Prime Minister Gillard has moved the Labor Party's national conference up one year to 2012 in order to hold a debate on its position on marriage equality.