IF punters at sportsbet.com.au are to go by, we are about to find out a lot about the opinions of the nation.
The online bookmaker has revealed it has taken a mountain of money for same sex marriage to be legalised this year.
The bookie’s Will Byrne reports 73 per cent of all wagers placed have been on the decision being made in 2016, at odds of $2.75.
But the bookie still has 2017 as the favourite for the legislation to come in, at $2.25.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has, true to form, gone the more conservative line, promising a plebiscite on the issue.
And he wants it to happen before the end of the year, prompting Sportsbet to wind the odds of a national vote in from $3 to $1.60.
“Given that the election is on the second of July, we do have ample time between then and the end of the year,” Turnbull said.
“I would expect it to be held this calendar year.
“But it will be held as soon as practical as obviously legislation has got to pass through the parliament.
“So all I can do is give you my commitment to hold a plebiscite as soon as we can.”
Turnbull said the plebiscite would ask a “very straightforward” question of the Australian public.
“We will be asking the Australian people whether they support the definition of marriage being extended to include couples of the same sex,” he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has promised to legalise same sex marriage within 100 days of being in government – that is if Labor is elected.
“Australia is trailing the world,” he said.
“The debate about marriage equality has simply gone on too long.”
“I know that there is a great deal of debate about ‘is the best and fastest way to make marriage equality a reality to allow every member of our parliament to have a free vote’.
“What the Labor Party does with this resolution is we lay down the challenge to the Liberals: Please give your members of parliament a free vote so we can make marriage equality a reality now.”
Sportsbet are also offering odds on the first same sex ceremony, both Man/Man and Woman/Woman offered at $1.87 while Sydney is tipped to be the first city to host a same sex marriage at $3.
“Punters certainly seem confident that same sex marriage is going to happen sooner rather than later and they’ve been quite vocal with their wallets on the matter,’’ Byrne said.
Same sex marriage markets
Year of plebiscite on same sex marriage?
$4 2017
$7.50 2018
$7 2019 or later
When will same sex marriage become legal?
$2.75 2016
$5 2018
$11 2019
$9 2020 or later
What will the first same sex marriage be?
$1.87 Male-Male
$1.87 Female-Female
Which city will host the first same sex marriage?
$3 Sydney
$4 Melbourne
$5 Brisbane
$6 Canberra
$8 Adelaide
$9 Perth
$11 Hobart
$11 Darwin
Venue of first same sex marriage
$2.50 Any Function hall
$5 Countryside manor
$7.50 Beachside Resort
$7.50 Vineyard
$11 Cruise ship
$21 Opera House
$51 A Church
$51 Any Parliament House
Odds provided by sportsbet.com.au
Australian hockey’s greatest player tipped to fly the flag at Rio
The name Jamie Dwyer is synonymous with Australian hockey.
His successes on the biggest stage are unmatched and that is why the retiring legend is the $2 favourite with sportsbet.com.au to be Australia’s flag bearer at the Olympics in Rio.
The three time Olympian has more caps for the Kookaburras than any other player and has been wound in from $3 in the past week.
Dwyer has said he will hang up his stick after the games in Brazil.
“After Rio I am 100 per cent retired,” Dwyer said.
“I have already retired from other hockey competitions this year, including club hockey and the Queensland Blades.
“That’s because I am fully committed to playing for Australia and the Rio program.
“And after that, I am done.
“I am looking forward to working hard towards the Kookaburras achieving success in Rio.
“And then I am looking forward to spending time with my family and friends.”
“The hunger, the fire in the belly burns brighter these days.
“That is because I know I don’t have long left.
“I treasure every game for Australia, I really appreciate playing in the green and gold and I know what it means.
“It means a lot.
“If I do make the cut for the Rio Olympics I will do my job for my country and it will be the icing on the cake.”
Another triple Olympian, cyclist Anna Meares, has also come into contention, her price slashed from $61 into a $5 second favourite.
Hurdler Sally Pearson, who was early favourite for the honour, has eased from $2 out to $7.50, equal on the third line of betting with another track and field athlete, Jared Tallent.
“You wouldn’t want to be a selector for this job” the bookie’s Christian Jantzen said.
“What an outstanding group of athletes, any of them are worthy candidates.
“Anna Meares holds the bulk of punters’ money, but Dwyer also has plenty of admirers.”
Ausse Olympic flag bearer market
$2 Jamie Dwyer (in from $3.00)
$5 Anna Meares (in from $61)
$7.50 Jared Tallent
$7.50 Sally Pearson (out from $2.00)
$10 Mark Knowles
$11 Kerry Hore
$11 Matthew Belcher
$15 Casey Sablowski
$20 Suzy Batkovic
$23 Alicia Coutts
$23 Melissa Wu
$23 Sam Stosur
$26 Patty Mills
$41 Andrew Bogut
$41 Cate Campbell
$51 Jason Day
$51 Milly Tapper
$101 Michael Diamond (out from $4.33)