REVELLERS recovering from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras awoke yesterday to news the government had promised a plebiscite on gay marriage by the year’s end.
The festival’s kaleidoscopic parade drew 12,500 marchers across 178 floats and more than 300,000 onlookers lining the street.
Malcolm Turnbull became the first prime minister to visit the event, telling reporters he and his wife Lucy had always attended.
“I think it’s a wonderful event in the life of Sydney, and I’m delighted to be here,” he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten led the Rainbow Labor float, pledging to introduce marriage equality within 100 days if Labor won the next election.
“It’s a political statement that people should be treated equally in this country, and free of discrimination,” he said.
