Australians overwhelmingly called for legalizing same-sex marriage, with almost 62 percent of the 13 million respondents to the postal survey voting "Yes".  Although the results are convincing, they are non-binding - and it's up to the government to act.

There were joyous scenes all over Australia - Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, everywhere - as the results were announced.

"Thank you Australia," said Labor senator Penny Wong.  "Thank you for standing up for fairness, thank you for standing up for equality, thank you for standing up for the LGBTIQ community everywhere and for standing up for our families."

PM Malcolm Turnbull has said he wants to pass a bill and get some wedding bells ringing before Christmas, and the momentum seems to be going that way.  Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson "had" plans to introduce a rival bill that would legalize gay marriage while allowing wide-ranging religious exemptions - not just clergy or civil servants, but also businesses that service weddings such as bakers.  That idea was maligned by those who want to get on with this, and Mr. Paterson on Wednesday said he would instead back the bill that seems to have the most support.

"The parliament must now quickly pass a bill to legalise same sex marriage.  It is clear the majority of senators believe my colleague Senator Dean Smith’s Bill is where we should start," Paterson said on social media.  "I will now work constructively with my parliamentary colleagues over the coming weeks on amendments to ensure that the strongest possible protections for the freedoms of all Australians are enshrined in the final legislation."

Liberal Senator Dean Smith's private members bill has been introduced to Federal Parliament.  It has fewer religious exemptions, and is favored by opposition parties and many members of the government.  The debate about amendments to the bill resumes on Thursday morning. 

There will no doubt be attempts by social conservatives to put in additional religious protections, which brought this caution from Greens leader Sen. Richard DiNatale:  "I would say to all people who support ending discrimination in this place, think very carefully about entrenching discrimination in this place just to appease your colleagues, rather than listening to the Australian people who spoke clearly."

Likewise, Senator Wong said:  "Australians have voted very clearly to change the law and it's time for the Parliament to reflect that perspective.   We have the view that the Australian people voted to lessen discrimination and not to extend it.  We also take the view that the bill does not change or take away any existing protections for religious freedoms.   I trust that the Senate will bear in mind the nature of the vote."