With the deadline for replacement Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey forms coming to a close on Friday, the couple have encouraged people to have their say.

Mr Shaw and Mr Southern have been together for just over 12 months and they say their relationship is the same as any other.

“We’re in a monogamous relationship, we’ve got a dog and a cat together. We pay our bills and our taxes like any other couple,” Mr Shaw said. “We have the same relationship as anyone else.”

The marriage survey was controversial from the start and has attracted heated debate from both the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ camps.

Mr Shaw said he and Mr Southern have noticed a recent difference in how they have been treated.

“For the first time in my whole life people have been yelling out from cars at us,” he said.

Mr Shaw said as they have been walking holding hands near their home in Sydney, some people have yelled out “good on you”, others have screamed abuse.

“There’s been an increase of gay attacks on Oxford Street,” he said.

Mr Shaw said he never experienced anything like this while living in Bathurst and that the city had “always been such a support network”.

“It never used to happen in Bathurst, it’s not something I was ever used to. Bathurst was such an accepting place. It’s been a bit of a shock,” he said.

Scare tactics have played a part in the ‘no’ campaign’s message, Mr Shaw said.

“People are getting to caught up in the politics of it all. It has nothing to do with safe schools … it’s just scare tactics and a little bit of un-education,” he said.

Looking towards the future, Mr Shaw said “it would mean everything to us” if they could marry.

“We’d just love to celebrate our relationship with his family and my family and get married within the year,” he said.

“I feel the vote for Australia will be yes and I hope that the government supports that.”

So far, 10.8 million (67.5 per cent) survey forms have been returned to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

If you have not received a form, a replacement can be requested before 6pm on Friday at www.marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au.

Forms must be returned to the ABS by October 27.

Results will be announced on November 15.