Australia has had its say in the contentious same-sex marriage postal survey and has overwhelmingly supported the notion of marriage equality.

So what happens now?

• Western Australian Senator Dean Smith is expected to introduce his Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 to Parliament later Wednesday.
• Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne has said the bill could be debated in parliament as early as this week.
• Victorian Senator James Paterson has proposed a rival bill that would “preserve” religious freedoms and allow businesses to decline to take part in same-sex weddings.
• Parliament will ultimately decide what form the bill will take.
• Some 22 bills seeking same-sex marriage have been introduced into the federal parliament since 2004. None have been passed.
• Malcolm Turnbull has promised the Coalition will allow MPs a conscience vote on the legislation.
• If the government succeeds in passing marriage equality legislation by December 3, same-sex couples will be able to legally marry before Christmas.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The New Daily (@thenewdaily)