melbourne australia high court reject two legal challenge thursday propose postal ballot whether legalize same-sex marriage clear way vote issue wide support also threaten divide government australians begin vote non-compulsory ballot early next week result expect time november court decision reject legal challenge argue center-right government need support parliament hold ballot come welcome relief prime minister malcolm turnbull turnbull support same-sex marriage two-thirds australians government hold razor-thin majority conservative elements liberal-national coalition use issue threaten leadership conservative lawmakers threaten resign court rule proposal liberal members say would side labor opposition secure same-sex marriage turnbull offer postal vote alternative rejection would lead increase pressure turnbull hold vote parliament already twice reject national ballot every australian say commonwealth australia embrace important social change turnbull tell parliament canberra court decision announce turnbull say australia marriage act would change end year public back same-sex marriage postal ballot although court verdict provide viable pathway same-sex marriage advocate fear escalation already vitriolic campaign turnbull call mutual respect last month issue gather heat opponents same-sex marriage launch contentious campaign advertisement last week government immediately reject inaccurate activists fear surge malicious campaign ballot formal election therefore subject usual rule political advertisements many supporters same-sex marriage australia back legal challenge insist campaign would hurt people already vulnerable say would support ballot get campaign long hard yes vote alex greenwich co-chair australian marriage equality tell reporters melbourne win come together finally achieve marriage equality australia 's high court reject challenge vote same-sex marriage