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Intrepid's CEO reminds travelling Aussies to say 'yes' to marriage equality

Whether you're working overseas or taking a much-needed break, it doesn't matter where you are in the world, if you're an Australia you should  take the time to have your say on equal marriage.

Whether you’re working overseas or taking a much-needed break, it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, if you’re an Australia you should  take the time to have your say on equal marriage.

The message was distributed online by Intrepid’s Chief Executive James Thornton, who said “it’s so important all Australians have their say” on this “fundamental Human Rights issue”.

His reminder comes on the week the Australian Bureau of Statistics made its same-sex marriage vote available online for Australian passport holders currently travelling or living away from home.

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Thornton said that while the results “are by no means guaranteed”, Aussies shouldn’t be complacent and let what should seem like a clear ‘Yes’ vote go in the way of unexpected results as they did with Brexit and the US elections.

“We must stand up and speak out for what we believe,” he wrote.

 

Read more of Thornton’s blog below, or click here for the full copy:

Image: Peter Hershey/Unsplash

Image: Peter Hershey/Unsplash

We know that Australians love to travel, but you’d have to be exploring a very remote corner of the world to have missed the news that the Australian government is currently undertaking a postal survey on same-sex marriage.

There have been many criticisms not only of the Australian government’s inability to make this decision for themselves, but also of the postal survey method – and more recently – the controversial campaigning efforts of both parties.

While it’s been a divisive process, at its core it is a fundamental Human Rights issue. That’s why it’s so important all Australians have their say.

So this is a reminder to all Australian travellers, wherever you are in the world, that you don’t have to be waiting at home for your chance to vote. Starting this week, Australians travelling or living overseas can jump on to the ABS’s website and follow the instructions to submit a vote online. This ABS factsheet is a great resource for Australians wanting to ensure their vote counts.

The results are by no means guaranteed. What seemed like a clear Yes vote now seems less sure. If Brexit and the US elections have taught us anything, it is that we must stand up and speak out for what we believe.

Click here to read more of James’ blog.

READ: Marriage equality, a reminder to Australian travellers

READ: Qantas’ Alan Joyce to donate $1M to marriage equality campaign

Have you submitted your survey response yet?