Sydney/Canberra — Australia is set to legalise same-sex marriage before the end of the year after voters emphatically backed the move in a nationwide survey. "We must respect the voice of the people," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in Canberra on Wednesday after the country’s statistics office revealed 61.6% of respondents support marriage equality, with 38.4% opposed. "It is unequivocal. It is overwhelming." Turnbull’s call to have the legislation passed by Christmas is supported by business, including Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, which says marriage equality would add A$650m ($496m) to the economy in the first year alone. But the right-leaning coalition government remains divided on the issue, with legislators arguing whether to let celebrants and other service providers opt out of marrying gay couples on religious grounds. Alan Joyce, the gay CEO of Qantas Airways, who has been a passionate supporter of same-sex unions, called on parliament to respect the result a...
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