CAMPBELL Newman's refusal to back same-sex unions proves LNP powerbrokers are calling the shots, Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser says.

Mr Fraser, who Tuesday night introduced in State Parliament a private member's bill to to recognise gay and lesbian unions, today labelled the LNP's opposition a "sad and dismal result".

"Clearly it's the case that the tyrannical regime that (LNP president Bruce) McIver is running in the LNP has run over Mr Newman's own conscience," he said.

His comments came after LNP leader Campbell Newman, who personally supports gay marriage but not a law change, announced his party room had unanimously agreed to oppose the legislation because it was nothing but a rushed "political distraction".

Mr Newman refused to be drawn this morning on whether he would repeal the legislation to recognise gay and lesbian unions if it passed and he subsequently became premier.

"That is asking me to answer a hypothetical on a hypothetical. I'm not prepared to do that," he said.

Mr Fraser rejected as "hogwash" suggestions his Bill was a stunt to help win Greens preferences in his Mt Coot-tha electorate, saying the Greens were more interested claiming his seat for themselves.

"They always put up their most high-profile candidate to try and defeat me, not to try and support me so let's have none of this absolute nonsense that the LNP is peddling around," he said.

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported that the LNP would oppose the legalisation of same-sex unions.

LNP leader Campbell Newman said the party room had this morning unanimously agreed to oppose the mooted change because it was nothing but a “political distraction”

Mr Newman, who again said he personally supports gay marriage but not a law change, said Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser’s push to recognise gay and lesbian unions was rushed.

Premier Anna Bligh this morning said the Bill would be debated before year’s end, after it was introduced in State Parliament last night.

But Mr Newman said that, if approved, it would require changes to at least 20 pieces of legislation.

“How is it that something that affects all these other pieces of legislation, with all these important social questions, has been put on the backburner for 13 years and suddenly has to be bounced through the parliament before Christmas?” he said.

“It’s simply because this is the run up to the state election.”

Mr Newman suggested Labor may have trouble getting the Bill through Parliament, saying MPs including Margaret Keech, Michael Choi and Phil Reeves would face electoral backlash if they supported civil unions.

“They represent electorates, I know, where people will be ringing them right now saying ‘what are you doing, you’re meant to be representing us’,” he said.

While the Premier yesterday said Labor MPs would be allowed a conscience vote on the issue, Mr Newman said the LNP would vote as a bloc to oppose the bill.

He said neither he nor his team had supported a conscience vote.

He said Prime Minister Julia Gillard had also distanced herself from State Labor over the issue.

“They’re holding up the shiny bauble over here, while down over here something else is going on,” he said.

“Who knows what other little secrets and what bad news stories they’re trying to distract everyone from.”



Originally published as LNP's faceless men set gay policy - Fraser