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Yes! Australia vote overwhelmingly in favour of same-sex marriage

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The Australian public have voted to legalise same-sex marriage, in a result that paves the way for the country's parliament to formally begin the process of legislating for the union.

The historic postal survey saw 79.5 per cent of Australia's registered voters have their say – making the turnout bigger than both the Brexit referendum and the 2016 US presidential election. Of the 79.5 per cent, 61.6 per cent voted yes.

While the results of the vote are not legally binding, it is widely expected that legislation will be passed by the government before the end of the year, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying he wants to make the people's wish “the law of the land by Christmas.”

Australia will become the 26th nation to legalise same-sex marriage, in what is a huge step forward for a country where, in some states, homosexuality was illegal until 1997.

Celebrations are well under way down under, with many happy voters taking to Twitter to express an overwhelming sense of joy.

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