Anti marriage equality campaigners vow to fight on despite ‘media bias’
The Marriage Alliance has told supporters they will continue to fight against the reforms following the ‘Yes’ vote’s survey win today, arguing “huge media bias” and a “widespread attack on supporters” were reasons the No vote did not get over the line.
Australians voted 61.6% in favour of same sex marriage, while 38.4% voted No, The Australian Bureau of Statistics announced this morning.
Ahead of the postal vote period a number of agencies and media companies came forward saying they would not be involved in the No campaign.
It started with a ‘Say No to No’ pledge from creative agency The Royals, which was later supported by a number of adland’s top agencies across the country.
Around the same time an email campaign named ‘OK to Say No’ was sent out, asking marketers who had publicly declined to work for opponents of marriage equality to rethink their decision.
The ABC was urged to remain impartial in their stance, while other media companies including the major TV networks said they would accept advertising from both sides.
“Despite the huge media bias against the No campaign, and widespread attacks on supporters of true marriage, millions of Australians voted against radically changing one of our key social institutions,” the organisation said in an email following the results announcement.
“However, it wasn’t enough to get us over the line — with the final result being 61.6% to 38.4% in favour of ‘Yes’.
“While this is obviously disappointing, we must shift our attention immediately to the challenge ahead.
“Throughout the campaign, supporters of same-sex marriage — including many leading politicians — claimed there would no adverse consequences to redefining marriage.
“It is now vital that we hold them to their word.”
But the team thanked those No voters for being part of the “historic campaign”.
“We may not have achieved the result we wanted, but we have been truly humbled by the massive role Marriage Alliance supporters have played over the past few weeks.
“We are grateful for your ongoing support as the campaign enters this new and even more challenging phase.”
Wow this is weak as piss, Mumbrella. Why give oxygen to bitter campaigns who have been emphatically defeated in public opinion? I get that you’ve got to work a marriage vote angle today but this is just so poor.
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No, people voted yes because they aren’t a bunch of c***s from the past who think people shouldn’t have equal rights.
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Of course they do
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the No campaigners are correct that the overwhelming majority of the media commentators and commentary was pro Yes. Anybody who denies this is being disingenuous
But they’re utterly incorrect to believe/state anything other than the Yes vote would have been an overwhelming majority without any of that commentary – all polls and statistics have shown the same thing in roughly the same proportion.
they need to dry their eyes, accept the result and embrace the new Australia
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The SSM result was not even ‘close’. There was no media bias, the media just reflected the majority, and I read lots of content that covered both the yes and no options. As the PM said the result just a ‘fair-go’.
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Before anyone crows too loudly about their success or otherwise, a marketing-thinking person would want to know what the percentages were for Informal votes and for straight out Abstentions. I doubt either side would wish to claim a “Trump style” result.
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*face palm*
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Too bad media agencies keep funding all the right wing media that has helped put us in this situation to begin with. Ads on NewsCorp media = more chances for Miranda Devine and Piers Akerman to spout their ignorance that the No voters subscribe to. When will media agencies wake up and have some ethics? All these young media planners who are so pro-gay marriage then write big checks to the media brands working against equality. Wake up media kids!!! (PS: I work at one and do my bit).
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Oh please! The NO camp didn’t get it across the line simply because there were more yes voters than no voters. Although I think this survey was a waste of time and money on a result we all knew was going to happen, it is a wake up call to conservative Australia that the rest of us
are no longer going to put up with paternalist, self righteous zealots like Abbott and Howard
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I believe it’s called “reporting”.
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That’s an insult to actual reporters. This is 8 straight paragraphs of copied and pasted text from a Marriage Alliance press release with no approach to any kind of regulatory or oversight body, or any media organisation being accused of ‘bias’.
Ironic that the same mob who have been banging on about how their freedoms are under threat by gay marriage are decrying corporate organisations making their own choice on who to support.
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Thankfully ‘yes’ received above 60% of the national vote as the emotive difference between a figure in the 50’s and 60, (and its impact on the tone that the haranguing over the form the bill will take), is massive.
From an advertising and political perspective, I think the sociopolitical demo’s encapsulated in the labour-held western sydney seats with the highest proportion of no votes will be interesting. Who are these people? Are they analogous with a certain subset of Trump voters?
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“I always said this was an issue where the Australian people wanted their say and today’s result demonstrates that seeking their views was the right thing to do.
I congratulate the “yes” campaign on their achievement.
The people have spoken and, of course, the parliament should respect the result.
I also thank the 4.7 million Australians who supported marriage between a man and a woman.
Both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader have pledged their support for freedom of religion.
I look forward to a parliamentary process that improves on the Dean Smith bill to implement same sex marriage with freedom of conscience for all, not just the churches.
So far, this process has been a credit to us as a nation and now needs to be completed in a way that keeps us the best country in the world.”
– Can anyone explain what ‘improvements’ Tony wants?
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The funniest thing is how hard right alleged murdoch journalist Miranda Devine was spruiking the no side by constantly going on about her ‘exclusive polling’ from the No camp telling us the no vote was going to win.
Well done Miranda.
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No I can’t. Apart from not changing the legislation.
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If conservatives are so unhappy about media bias, we never heard their outrage back in 2013 when the headline of the Daily Telegraph read “Australia Needs Tony”.
Perhaps they could champion a cause that where there is political reporting in any media outlet in Australia, equal weight is given to all political view points. Could give News Ltd a refreshing new feel.
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What a great day for Australia. We grew up a bit more today.
But among the happiness there is some sadness. Sadness that The Marriage Alliance can be so out-of-touch, and maybe a tad bitter. Just because people commenting in the media (and indeed 62% of Australians) voice their opinion does NOT constitute bias. It’s very sad that in their time-warp they think that.
To the rest of Australia – welcome to the 21st Century.
P.S. It must be a big worry to all those cake-makers and florists that may be asked to contribute to a wedding reception. Oh hang on. All the good florists and cake-makers I know ARE gay!
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Nah they don’t need to dry their eyes, I’ll happily drink their tears while the world’s smallest violin plays.
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Time to put the nag to pasture and leave it in peace as it licks it wounds while relishing a time when Australian women couldn’t vote and Australian believed apartheid was appropriate behavior.
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There really is nothing that can’t be blamed on media agencies or millennials, is there? Extra points when it’s both, obviously.
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@Chris
Everyone, including the infant born a few minutes ago is [quote] “from the past” [unquote] Certainly anyone able to vote is from the past. I gather that what you are aiming your bile at, is the group over 50, whom you seem to regard as ancient and therefor irrelevant. Many who are conservative, and anti gay marriage, are also in the 18 to 40 bracket, and many (like myself) who support marriage equality, are well over 60.
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Can anything discredit a campaign faster than whining that the media is biased against it?
Maybe mean-spirited bitching about refusing to support equality for others in case they themselves aren’t treated with equality…because that’s like, really not nice, and shouldn’t be allowed…
One of the many tragedies of this situation is the large number of “walk the talk” Christians who aren’t small-minded prats being drowned out by these vocal idiots.
Calls for compassion and care are easily drowned out (like the Uniting church, where same-sex couples have been welcomed and supported for many years.)
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