Australians set HR lesson in 'overwhelming' vote for equality

Australia has made a giant leap toward equality and diversity by voting in favour of same-sex marriage in a ground-breaking new poll.

Whilst the survey is not legally binding, and was used more to get a sense of the general feeling around the topic, the vote has come as a huge victory for equality campaigners nationwide. The Independent reports that 61.6% of the electorate voted in favour, with 38.4% voting against. Speaking on the victory, Australia’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, labelled the result as “overwhelming” and “unequivocal”.

“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 asked us to do and get this done,” he added. “This year, before Christmas – that must be our commitment… They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love.”

The fight for equality is an issue that any moral and ethical business leaders should be well-versed with. Earlier this year, the US courts ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBT employees from workplace discrimination. This ruling came just three weeks after a three-judge panel ruled the opposite, saying employers aren’t prohibited from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation.