Voting is under way in a non-binding and voluntary postal survey to measure support for a law-change which would allow same-sex couples to legally get married. Sixteen million Australians are eligible to participate in the survey and the results will be published on 15 November 2017. As reported by BBC News on 13 September 2017, new
legislation has been hastily introduced in an attempt to provide safeguards against anyone being subjected to threats, intimidation or vilification during the survey. However, fines of up to the equivalent of USD 10,000 do not seem to be enough.
The Daily Mail reported on 15 September 2017 that both a Christian woman appearing in a television slot supporting the "No campaign" and her local church were
threatened with violent attack. In Canberra, a Christian children"s entertainer lost her job after putting a Coalition of Marriage logo on her private Facebook profile. According to The Sydney Morning Herald reporting on 20 September 2017, the young Christian was told that "
homophobic views being made public are detrimental to the business". The Herald Sun reported on 24 September 2017 that a Coalition for Marriage meeting in Melbourne was stormed by same-sex marriage supporters with banners shouting "crucify the Christians" and that a church in Leura, New South Wales, was vandalized with "Vote yes" graffiti.
David Davidson, working for World Watch Research, comments: "Despite the legislation aimed at creating a safe atmosphere for serious theological and sociological debate on the issue of same-sex marriage, reports of aggressive language and actions are widespread. Same-sex supporters would seem to be attempting to silence open discussion, especially if the people involved are known to be Christians. As one politician put it (as reported by BBC News on 24 September 2017): "˜A
culture has developed whereby it is acceptable to vilify, mock, abuse and shame anyone who stands in the way, or even raises questions, about whether we should legalise same-sex marriage". If the "˜Yes" campaigners win and the law does get changed, it is to be hoped that freedom of religion, expression and conscience will thereafter be better protected in Australia than during this survey."
