One of the most curious aspects of the same-sex marriage vote is the propensity of Sydney’s west to vote no.
Of just 17 electorates across all of Australia that had a majority no vote, 12 of them were in Sydney’s west.
In New South Wales, Banks, Barton, Bennelong, Blaxland, Chifley, Fowler, Greenway, McMahon, Mitchell, Parramatta, Watson and Werriwa voted no.

The 12 electorates that went against the country's general sentiment .The 12 electorates that went against the country’s general sentiment . ()

In Victoria, Bruce and Calwell voted no.
In Queensland, Kennedy, Groom and Maranoa voted no.
In South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT, all seats returned a yes vote.

Independent MP Bob Katter speaks at the Coalition for Marriage 'No' state campaign rally at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane on September 22. (AAP)Independent MP Bob Katter speaks at the Coalition for Marriage ‘No’ state campaign rally at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane on September 22. (AAP) ()

This is a traditional area where federal political leaders target when they’re trying to win elections.
Think Howard’s battlers … it’s the heartland where the voting mood decides who wins federal elections.
And right now it’s a heavily Labor held area … yet the views appear diametrically opposed to Bill Shorten and Labor’s stance on same-sex marriage.
This could clearly send mixed messages to politicians in their electorates in the lead-up to the next election, and especially when the House of Representatives is already so delicately balanced.
Think the seat of Bennelong, where shortly John Alexander and former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally will battle in a by-election.
But there has been significant change in Sydney’s west that might also be reflected in this vote.
The traditional heavy industry is disappearing, and along with it the factories and many blue-collar jobs.

Australia celebrates the result. (AAP)Australia celebrates the result. (AAP) ()

In their place are more service industries, white-collar workers and housing estates. 
These are the key areas that fuelled Sydney’s home-building boom … that absorbed so many new arrivals into Australia in the past 10 years.
And the social conservatism and religious views of many of these new arrivals might well be reflected in this vote as well.

Same-sex couples can now legally marry in Australia.Same-sex couples can now legally marry in Australia. ()

The Western Sydney suburbs that voted no
Bennelong: 49.8-50.2
Mitchell-49-51
Greenway: 46-54
Banks: 45-55
Barton: 44-56
Chifley: 41-59
Parramatta: 38-62
Fowler: 36-64
Werriwa: 36-64
McMahon: 35-65
Watson: 30-70
Blaxland: 26-74

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