Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has stated that the government will now make every effort to make same-sex marriage legal before Christmas.

More than 12.7 million people, or 79.5 per cent of eligible voters, had their say in the voluntary postal survey and every state and territory voted in favour of the change to Australian law.

Bernadette Callinan from Harden has a gay daughter who has been in a committed relationship for the last six years and is very pleased with the result.

“We are very happy with the results of this vote,” Ms Callinan said. “I don’t think most people would realise what a huge difference this result will make to not only the same sex couples themselves, but to their extended families.”

“We were a bit concerned, because the people who were voting ‘no’ were very passionate about their beliefs. to the point where anonymous propaganda was being delivered around Harden to home letterboxes.”

The Express spoke with a young man, a first-time voter, who had voted ‘no’ to the plebiscite and asked him why he chose to vote that way. His response was ‘I don’t know’.

“That, as a parent, is very hard to hear.” Ms Callinan said.

“It means people are making decisions that greatly affect other people’s lives without really understanding the issues. But I am truly grateful for everyone who voted yes.”

Opponents of same-sex marriage had differing responses to the result. 

Tony Abbott has called for the postal survey result to be “respected”, but Kevin Andrews has indicated that he will continue to oppose any measure to legalise gay marriage.

The Harden Express tried to contact churches in the Harden area, but they were unwilling to comment at this point in time.