Same-sex marriage result in Australia is good news for embattled Turnbull

It is extraordinary that this country lagged behind New Zealand and Britain, where reform came years ago under conservative governments

Australians have paved the way for the country’s biggest legislative social change in decades.

But before we congratulate ourselves excessively, let’s remember that legalising marriage equality just catches us up with many comparable countries. It is extraordinary that this country has lagged behind New Zealand and Britain, where reform came years ago under conservative governments.

Politically, this is a win for Malcolm Turnbull, giving him some good news in the generally bleak scene that surrounds his government.

 

But the real victory belongs to the five Liberals (four