Finance Minister Mathias Cormann understands a very large number of Australians have immediately returned their marriage equality survey forms.
"I expect it will be a credible participation rate," Senator Cormann, who has responsibility for the organisation of the survey, told Sky News on Sunday.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics, which is conducting the survey, will provide an update on the size of voting returns every Tuesday during October, ahead of the final result on November 15.
However, Senator Cormann reiterated it is the actual result of the survey, rather than the participation, the government will act on.
He says if there is a 'yes' vote, the government will facilitate a private members bill in the final parliamentary sitting fortnight before the end of the year to change the law to allow same-sex couples to marry.
