Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Journals of the Senate, No. 52—14 August 2017, p. 1690.

Chapter 2 - Process leading to the postal vote

[1]        Responsibility for the conduct of the postal survey was delegated to the Finance Minister.

[2]        Journals of the Senate, No. 62—13 September 2017, p. 1976. This legislation is the Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017.

[3]        Votes and Proceedings, No. 91—7 December 2017, p. 1288. This legislation is the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017.

[4]        Marriage Act 1961, ss. 5(1).

[5]        Marriage Act 1961, s. 88EA.

[6]        Dierdre McKeown, 'Chronology of same-sex marriage bills introduced into the federal parliament: a quick guide', Australian Parliamentary Library, 1 December 2017, https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1718/Quick_Guides/SSMarriageBills (accessed 16 January 2018).

[7]        Judith Ireland, 'Same-sex marriage showdown: Tony Abbott calls special meeting of Coalition MPs to debate free vote', The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 August 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/samesex-marriage-tony-abbott-calls-special-meeting-of-coalition-mps-to-debate-free-vote-20150811-giwhi5.html (accessed 29 November 2017).

[8]        Judith Ireland, 'Tony Abbott flags plebiscite on same-sex marriage in bid to defuse anger', The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 August 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-flags-plebiscite-on-samesex-marriage-in-bid-to-defuse-anger-20150811-giwyg1.html (accessed 29 November 2017).

[9]        Australian Parliament, 'Senators and Members: Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP', https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=885 (accessed 29 November 2017).

[10]      Prime Minister Hon Malcolm Turnbull, 'Interview with Leigh Sales', ABC 7.30 Program, 18 July 2016, https://www.pm.gov.au/media/interview-leigh-sales-abc-730-program (accessed 15 January 2018).

[11]      Senator the Hon Scott Ryan, Special Minister of State, 'Plebiscite paves way for choice on same sex marriage', Media Release, 13 September 2016, http://scottryan.com.au/media/media-release-plebiscite-paves-way-for-choice-on-same-sex-marriage (accessed 29 November 2017).

[12]      Australian Parliament, 'Plebiscite (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill 2016', https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5728 (accessed 29 November 2017).

[13]      Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition, 'Now it's time for a free vote, Mr Turnbull', Media Release, 8 November 2016, http://www.billshorten.com.au/now_it_s_time_for_a_free_vote_mr_turnbull_tuesday_8_november_2016 (accessed 29 November 2017). See also: Senator Janet Rice, 'Expensive, unnecessary and now defeated plebiscite bill relegated to the graveyard of bad ideas', Media Release, 8 November 2016, https://greensmps.org.au/articles/expensive-unnecessary-and-now-defeated-plebiscite-bill-relegated-graveyard-bad-ideas (accessed 29 November 2017).

[14]      Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of Australia, 'Press conference with Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann, Acting Special Minister of State', Press Conference, 8 August 2017, https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-senator-hon-mathias-cormann-acting-special-minister-state (accessed 29 November 2017).

[15]      Journals of the Senate, No. 50—9 August 2017, pp 1620–21.

[16]      Census and Statistics (Statistical Information) Direction 2017, ss 3(1) & ss 3(3). See also: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Submission 1, p. 2.

[17]      See Joe Kelly and Chris Merritt, 'Younger teenagers not invited to ballot party', Weekend Australian, 12 August 2017, p. 4; and Michael Koziol and Michaela Whitbourn, 'Survey risks excluding 113,000 voters, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 August 2017, p. 4.

[18]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, Submission 1, p. 2.

[19]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, Submission 1, p. 2. See also: Census and Statistics (Statistical Information) Direction 2017, ss 3(1) & ss 3(3).

[20]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, Submission 1, p. 2.

[21]      Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of Australia, 'Press conference with Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann, Acting Special Minister of State', Press Conference, 8 August 2017, https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-senator-hon-mathias-cormann-acting-special-minister-state (accessed 29 November 2017).

[22]      Advance to the Finance Minister Determination (No. 1 of 2017–18).

[23]      Department of Finance, 'Advance to the Finance Minister', July 2017, https://www.finance.gov.au/publications/advance_to_the_finance_minister/ (accessed 4 December 2017).

[24]      Department of Finance, 'Advance to the Finance Minister', July 2017, https://www.finance.gov.au/publications/advance_to_the_finance_minister/ (accessed 4 December 2017).  See also: Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2017–18, para. 10(1)(b).

[25]      Advance to the Finance Minister Determination (No. 1 of 2017–18).

[26]      Advance to the Finance Minister Determination (No. 1 of 2017–18).

[27]      Wilkie v The Commonwealth & Australian Marriage Equality Ltd v Cormann [2017] HCA 40, pp 16–17.

[28]      Wilkie v The Commonwealth & Australian Marriage Equality Ltd v Cormann [2017] HCA 40, p. 2.

Chapter 3 - The conduct of the postal survey

[1]        Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, pp 1–2.

[2]        Australian Parliamentary Library, 'A quick guide to plebiscites in Australia', 30 June 2011, https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2011/June/A_quick_guide_to_plebiscites_in_Australia (accessed 10 January 2018).

[3]        Department of Finance, answers to questions taken on notice from a public hearing in Canberra on 7 September 2017, received 18 September 2017.

[4]        Name withheld, Submission 16, p. 2.

[5]        Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 2. See also:

[6]        Australian Bureau of Statistics, '1800.0—Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, key dates', http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1800.0~2017~Main%20Features~Key%20dates~6 (accessed 10 January 2018).

[7]        Journals of the Senate, No. 62—13 September 2017, p. 1976. This legislation is the Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017.

[8]        Peter Martin, 'If it gets up, the same-sex marriage postal plebiscite could break the ABS', The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 August 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/it-it-gets-up-the-samesex-marriage-postal-plebiscite-could-break-the-abs-20170808-gxrmml.html (accessed 5 December 2017). See also: Senate Economics References Committee, 2016 Census: issues of trust, November 2016, https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/2016Census/Report (accessed 5 December 2017).

[9]        Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 2. See also: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Submission 2, p. 13.

[10]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 15 September 2017, p. 21.

[11]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Australia supports changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry', Media Release, 15 November 2017, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbyReleaseDate/273719D99046D11ECA2581F00019EF73?OpenDocument (accessed 11 January 2018).

[12]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Survey Results: National Results', https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/ (accessed 5 December 2017).

[13]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 17.

[14]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 17.

[15]      Mr David Kalisch, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 2.

[16]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 19.

[17]      Mr David Kalisch, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 2.

[18]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 15 September 2017, p. 2.

[19]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Survey Results: Results for Northern Territory',  https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/nt.html (accessed 5 December 2017).

[20]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Survey Results: Participation map', https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/participation-map.html (accessed 5 December 2017).

[21]      Australian Electoral Commission, 'Profile of the electoral division of Lingiari (NT)', 27 February 2017, http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nt/lingiari.htm (accessed 5 December 2017).

[22]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, '2016 Census QuickStats: Lingiari', 12 January 2017, http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/CED701?opendocument (accessed 5 December 2017).

[23]      Australian Electoral Commission, 'Voter Turnout: 2016 House of Representatives and Senate elections', p. 25, http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/research/files/voter-turnout-2016.pdf (accessed 11 January 2018). The seat of Lingiari has had the lowest voter turnout of any federal electorate since the 2001 federal election.

[24]      Correspondence from the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Hon Michael Gunner to the Prime Minister, Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, dated 15 August 2017, tabled by Senator McCarthy at a public hearing on 17 August 2017.

[25]      Correspondence from the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Hon Michael Gunner to the Prime Minister, Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, dated 15 August 2017, tabled by Senator McCarthy at a public hearing on 17 August 2017. See also: Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 17.

[26]      Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation, Submission 30, p. 3.

[27]      Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation, Submission 30, p. 3.

[28]      Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation, Submission 30, p. 24.

[29]      Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation, Submission 30, p. 24.

[30]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 5.

[31]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 13.

[32]      Mr Andrew Brooks, Submission 24, p. [1].

[33]      Mr David Kalisch, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 13.

[34]      Mr Jeff Pope, Deputy Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 3.

[35]      Ms Christine Corbett, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Australia Post, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 13.

[36]      Kate Manl, 'Brunswick mum upset by dumped postal vote envelopes discovery', The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 September 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/national/brunswick-mum-upset-by-dumped-postal-vote-envelopes-discovery-20170918-gyjw8m.html (accessed 11 January 2018).

[37]      Kate Manl, 'Brunswick mum upset by dumped postal vote envelopes discovery', The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 September 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/national/brunswick-mum-upset-by-dumped-postal-vote-envelopes-discovery-20170918-gyjw8m.html (accessed 11 January 2018).

[38]      See, for example: Salml Jeong, 'Same sex marriage survey envelopes found in bin of Mona Vale apartment block', The Sydney Morning Herald, http://www.smh.com.au/national/samesex-marriage-survey-envelopes-found-in-bin-of-mona-vale-apartment-block-20170922-gymxlw.html (accessed 11 January 2018).

[39]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 15 September 2017, p. 4.

[40]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 18.

[41]      Mr David Kalisch, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 18.

[42]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 18.

[43]      Mr Ian Brightwell, Submission 2, pp 2–3.

[44]      Mr Ian Brightwell, Submission 2, pp 3–4.

[45]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Marriage Survey: External observers', November 2017, https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/observers.html (accessed 6 December 2017). More than 12 million forms altogether automatically coded.

[46]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Marriage Survey: External observers', November 2017, https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/observers.html (accessed 6 December 2017).

[47]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Marriage Survey: Quality and integrity statement', November 2017, https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/quality.html (accessed 6 December 2017).

[48]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Marriage Survey: Quality and integrity statement', November 2017, https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/quality.html (accessed 6 December 2017).

[49]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Marriage Survey: Quality and integrity statement', November 2017, https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/results/quality.html (accessed 6 December 2017).

[50]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey', pp 39–40, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/95553f4ed9b60a374a2568030012e707/7cbde85f96095fa4ca25822400162fc2/$FILE/Report%20on%20the%20conduct%20of%20the%20Australian%20Marriage%20Law%20Postal%20Survey%202017.pdf (accessed 30 January 2018).

Chapter 4 - Offensive and misleading material

[1]        Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Matter of a popular vote, in the form of a plebiscite or referendum, on the matter of marriage in Australia, September 2015, p. 31.

[2]        Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Matter of a popular vote, in the form of a plebiscite or referendum, on the matter of marriage in Australia, September 2015, pp 15–16.

[3]        See, for example: Sharni Benson, Submission 21; Ms Fiona McCandless, Submission 11; Mx George Foulkes-Taylor, Submission 14; Judi Nicholls, Submission 15; Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Community Legal Centres NSW, Submission 34; Mr Alex Greenwich MP, Submission 33; SHINE SA, Submission 36.

[4]        Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Submission 3, p. 6.

[5]        Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Submission 3, p. 5.

[6]        Ms Sophie Cleary, Submission 8, p. [1].

[7]        Ms Sophie Cleary, Submission 8, p. [1].

[8]        Ms Trinah De Leon, Submission 19, p. [1].

[9]        Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Member for Sydney, Submission 26, p. [4]. This submission quotes a correspondent to Ms Plibersek's office.

[10]      Name withheld, Submission 23, p. [1].

[11]      Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Submission 26, p. [4]. This submission quotes a correspondent to Ms Plibersek's office.

[12]      Paul Karp, 'Marriage equality survey marred by doubling in assaults', The Guardian, 5 December 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/05/marriage-equality-survey-marred-by-doubling-in-reported-assaults (accessed 5 December 2017). See also: S Ecker, E Bennett, 'Preliminary results of the Coping with marriage equality debate survey: Investigating the stress impacts associated with the Australian marriage equality debate during the lead up to the postal survey results announcement', The Australia Institute and National LGBTI Health Alliance, December 2017, http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/P447%20Briefing%20note_LGBTIQ%2B%20coping%20survey%20prelimary%20results.pdf (accessed 12 December 2017).

[13]      Paul Karp, 'Marriage equality survey marred by doubling in assaults', The Guardian, 5 December 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/05/marriage-equality-survey-marred-by-doubling-in-reported-assaults (accessed 5 December 2017).

[14]      SHINE SA, Submission 36, pp 1–2.

[15]      just.equal, Submission 32.4, p. 1.

[16]      See, for example: SHINE SA, Submission 36; Rainbow Families NSW, Submission 39.

[17]      Rainbow Families NSW, Submission 39, p. 4.

[18]      Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Supplementary Submission 3.1, p. 11.

[19]      Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, 'Additional Safeguards to facilitate Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey', Media Release, 12 September 2017, http://www.financeminister.gov.au/media-release/2017/09/12/additional-safeguards-facilitate-australian-marriage-law-postal-survey (accessed 5 December 2017).

[20]      Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, 'Additional Safeguards to facilitate Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey', Media Release, 12 September 2017, http://www.financeminister.gov.au/media-release/2017/09/12/additional-safeguards-facilitate-australian-marriage-law-postal-survey (accessed 5 December 2017). See also: Explanatory Memorandum, p. 3.

[21]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Safeguards', https://marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/safeguards (accessed 5 December 2017).

[22]      Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Submission 3, p. 3.

[23]      LGBTI Legal Service, Submission 40, p. 2.

[24]      LGBTI Legal Service, Submission 40, p. 2.

[25]      LGBTI Legal Service, Submission 40, p. 3.

[26]      Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Community Legal Centres NSW, Submission 34, p. 9.

[27]      Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Community Legal Centres NSW, Submission 34, pp 9–10.

[28]      Dr Kevin Bonham, Submission 12, p. [2].

[29]      See, for example: Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality, Submission 35: just.equal, Submission 32.

[30]      Mr Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer, Australian Electoral Commission, Official Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 6.

[31]      Ms Samantha Palmer, General Manager, People, Culture and Communication Division, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Official Hansard, 15 September 2017, p. 18.

[32]      Mr Tom Rogers, Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 176.

[33]      Mr Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 177.

[34]      Mr Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 177.

[35]      Mr Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, pp 177–178.

[36]      Mr Tom Rogers, Australian Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 180.

[37]      Mr Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 180.

[38]      Mr Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 180.

[39]      See: Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017, s. 15 & 19.

[40]      Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, pp 176–177.

[41]      See Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Estimates Official Hansard, 25 October 2017, pp 125–131.

Dissenting report by Government Senators

[1]        Prime Minister the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, House of Representatives Hansard, 21 October 2015, p. 12007.

[2]        House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings, No. 91–7 December 2017, pp 1288. The bill had previously passed the Senate on 29 November 2017, see: Journals of the Senate, No. 74–29 November 2017, p. 2367.

[3]        Interview on 7.30 with Leigh Sales, 7 December 2017, available at: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/television-interview-leigh-sales-730-abc (accessed 9 February 2018).

[4]        For example Jennifer Hewett, 'Same-sex marriage becomes reality', Sydney Morning Herald, 7 December 2017 http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/through-the-minefield-of-coalition-tensions-samesex-marriage-becomes-reality-20171207-h00nbu (accessed 9 February 2018).

[5]        Dennis Shanahan 'Federal election 2016: Bill Shorten flips on gay marriage plebiscite', The Australian, 29 June 2016, available at: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/federal-election-2016/federal-election-2016-bill-shorten-flips-on-gay-plebiscite/news-story/fd7f72809333817973db6448f554 (accessed on 13 February 2018).

[6]        ABC Radio National, AM interview with Sabra Lane, 'Rejection of Indigenous advisory a "kick in the guts": Patrick Dodson', available at: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/indigenous-advisory-rejection-a-kick-in-the-guts-dodson/9091474 (accessed on 13 February 2018).

[7]        Wilkie & Ors v The Commonwealth of Australia & Ors; Australian Marriage Equality Ltd & Anor v Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann & Anor [2017] HCATrans 174 (5 September 2017).

[8]        Wilkie & Ors v The Commonwealth of Australia & Ors; Australian Marriage Equality Ltd & Anor v Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann & Anor, [2017] HCA 40, paragraph 142, 28 September 2017, available at: http://eresources.hcourt.gov.au/showCase/2017/HCA/40.

[9]        Prime Minister Press Statement No 229, 18 April 1974, 'Australia's National Anthem', available at: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/original/00003216.pdf (accessed on 13 February 2018;  Prime Minister, the Hon Gough Whitlam, Media release, 8 April 1974, 'Results of the National Anthem Poll', available at:  https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/original/00003208.pdf (accessed on 13 February 2018).

[10]      Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee public hearing, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 11.

[11]      Australian Bureau of Statistics, Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey 2017, 30 January 2018, p. 9, available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/1800.0Main+Features382017?OpenDocument (accessed 9 February 2018).

[12]      See Wilkie v The Commonwealth; Australian Marriage Equality Ltd v Minister for Finance [2017] HCA 40.

[13]      Department of Finance website, Advance to the Finance Minister, available at: https://www.finance.gov.au/publications/advance_to_the_finance_minister/ (accessed on 13 February 2018).

[14]      See Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Submission 1, p. 13; Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Census and Enabling Services Group, ABS, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, pp 4–5; ABS, answers to questions on notice, 17 August 2017, pp 1–3 (received 31 August 2017).

[15]      See: Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Census and Enabling Services Group, ABS, Committee Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 4.

[16]      Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey 2017, 30 January 2018, pp 42-51, available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/1800.0Main+Features382017?OpenDocument (accessed 9 February 2018).

[17]      Saimi Jeong, 'Same sex marriage survey envelopes found in bin of Mona Vale apartment block', Sydney Morning Herald, 22 September 2017, available at: http://www.smh.com.au/national/samesex-marriage-survey-envelopes-found-in-bin-of-mona-vale-apartment-block-20170922-gymxlw.html  (accessed 12 February 2018).

[18]      'SSM: Same-Sex marriage surveys found 'dumped in Brunswick', security concerns raised', ABC News Online, 19 September 2017, available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-19/ssm-surveys-dumped-in-brunswick-garden-raise-security-concerns/8961044 (accessed 9 February 2018)

[19]      ABS, Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, 30 January 2018, p. 45.

[20]      ABS, Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, 30 January 2018, p. 49.

[21]      Anthony Green, 'Participation rates at Australian Voluntary Postal Ballot Elections', 9 August 2017, ABC News Online, available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-09/participation-rates-at-australian-voluntary-postal-ballot-electi/9388940 (accessed 9 February 2018).

[22]      See Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia supports changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry, Media Release, 15 November 2017, available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbyReleaseDate/C2DA40601247126DCA25822400106775?OpenDocument (accessed 9 February 2018).

[23]      ABS, Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, 30 January 2018, p. 32.

[24]      ABS, Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, 30 January 2018, p. 21.

[25]      ABS, Report on the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, 30 January 2018, p. 36.

[26]      Mr Jonathan Palmer, Deputy Australian Statistician, Census and Enabling Services Group, ABS, Committee Hansard, 15 September 2017, p. 2.

[27]      Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, Submission 25, pp 1–2.

[28]      Mr Jeff Pope, Deputy Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission, Committee Hansard, 7 September 2017, p. 10.

[29]      Mr Tom Rogers, Australian Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission, Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Estimates Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 181.

[30]      Mr Tom Rogers, Australian Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission, and Mr Jeff Pope, Deputy Electoral Commissioner, Australian Electoral Commission Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Estimates Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 181; and Australian Electoral Commission, answer to question on notice no. 48, Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Supplementary Budget Estimates hearings 2017–18.

[31]      See: Chapter 4 of the majority report.

[32]      Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, 'Additional Safeguards to facilitate the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey', MC 56/17, 12 September 2017, available at: https://www.financeminister.gov.au/media-release/2017/09/12/additional-safeguards-facilitate-australian-marriage-law-postal-survey (accessed 9 February 2018).

[33]      Sections 15 and 19, Marriage Law Survey (Additional Safeguards) Act 2017.

[34]      Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, pp. 176-177.

[35]      Mr Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer, Australian Electoral Commission, Estimates Official Hansard, 24 October 2017, p. 177-178.

[36]      2017-18 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, p. 185. http://www.budget.gov.au/2017-18/content/myefo/download/09_Appendix_A.pdf.

[37]      See National Mental Health Commission, 2017-18 Federal Budget: Mental health proves to be a priority, 10 May 2017, available at: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/media-centre/news/2017-18-federal-budget-mental-health-proves-to-be-a-priority.aspx (accessed 9 February 2018).

[38]      Australian Electoral Commission, Indigenous Electoral Participation Program, available at: http://www.aec.gov.au/Indigenous/iepp.htm (accessed 12 February 2018).