The "same sex marriage" survey

has been ruled on by the High Court and the finding has been in the government's favour. 
That means ALL Downunderites on the present electoral roll will be able to have their say on whether legislation should be put before parliament to make it possible for same sex couples to  marry. 
I am not going to comment "for" or "against" here but there are some other things I would like to say.
The first thing is. The "vote" is not compulsory - but if you don't have your say then you can't complain about the result. I know there are people out there demanding a boycott of the survey. That is, to my way of thinking, ill informed and dangerous. If you feel that strongly about the issue then vote "for" or "against". Don't simply say, "It's the government's job to do this." The government will do it. The present government went to the election promising people would have their say. They are now getting their say. It isn't quite in the form that was originally intended but the result will be the same in the end. Demanding people boycott the survey is rather like saying we have no right to select those who will represent us. Those people are our servants, not our masters. Is there really something wrong with telling them what we want them to do? 
I know, it's a bit like the issue of a "republic" - the referendum on that failed. A majority of people in all states and territories told the government they didn't want one. Did it  shut the "yes" campaign up? No. They simply tried to say "it was the way the question was worded". That was nonsense because  the question arose out of a meeting of the people in Canberra - people who had been elected to put forward their point of view. Believe me, that meeting was stacked in favour of becoming a republic and it was the question which was thought to have the best chance of succeeding.  
The "yes" campaign genuinely looks like succeeding this time. But what if it doesn't? The "yes" campaigners have already said that, if it doesn't, they expect the government to legislate in favour anyway. They are already saying that parliament "must" legislate. The Leader of the Opposition, who earlier supported a people's say on the issue, is saying that his next government will legislate in favour of it anyway - whatever the outcome. 
I wonder what would happen then if 90% of the electorate return their voting paper and 90% of those were not in favour? Would he still ignore the will of the people.
A ten year old was talking to me about this. He takes a mild interest in the political process. His parents talk to him. His comment to me went along the lines of, "Yes, but if people voted no and he did it anyway isn't that wrong?"
Is it?