Homosexual Law Survey (Press, 28 May 1985)
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Summary: Homosexual Law Survey (Press, 28 May 1985)
A survey conducted by Mr Philip Burdon, the Member of Parliament for Fendalton, has revealed divided opinions among local constituents regarding homosexual law reform. The survey, which aimed to capture the views of a random sample of 2000 residents, yielded a significant response rate of 20%, with 402 completed questionnaires returned. Of these responses, 186 individuals, representing 46.5%, supported reform, while 210, or 52.25%, were opposed. Another six respondents were unsure, accounting for 1.25% of the replies. Additionally, Mr Burdon has received 205 letters on the topic from his constituents, with 113 letters, or 55.12%, supporting the reform and 92, or 44.88%, opposing it. He noted that the overall sentiment in his electorate appears to be split on the issue. An interesting aspect of the survey findings is that a substantial 80% of those sampled did not express strong enough feelings to respond, indicating a level of indifference or a lack of strong opinion on the matter among the majority of constituents. Among the respondents who favoured reform, preferences regarding the age of consent varied. Specifically, 71 individuals supported an age of consent set at 16 years, 51 preferred 18 years, and 56 suggested it should be 20 years. Four respondents expressed uncertainty about the appropriate age. Mr Burdon indicated his intention to continue engaging with the public to gauge opinions on homosexual law reform, actively seeking feedback from voters and reviewing evidence presented to Parliament. This approach reflects his commitment to understanding the community's stance on this significant social issue.
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