Australian people have voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, after a three-month national campaign. 

61.6 per cent of Australians voted “Yes”, while 38.4 per cent voted “No”, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

79.5 per cent of Australian voters participated in the vote, with women responding greater at 81.6 per cent, compared to men at 77.3 per cent. 

Strong numbers were recorded for young voters, as voting was completed by 78 per cent of those aged 18 to 19, and 72 per cent of those aged 20 and 24. 

Sydney had three of the five highest yes-voting electorates in Australia. 

Following the result, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledged to change the law by Christmas. 

“The Australian people have spoken in their millions and have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,” Mr Turnbull said. 

“Now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it, to get on with the job the Australian people have tasked us to do and get this done this year, before Christmas,” he added.  

Two bills, both drafted by Liberals will be presented to the Senate. One by WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith, and the other by Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson. 

Paterson’s bill will protect people such as religious ministers, civil celebrants, and bakers to object in taking part of same-sex weddings.