JULIA Gillard is set for a reversal on gay marriage, with government sources claiming she would announce within weeks a conscience vote on the issue. Government sources said the Prime Minister would state her position ahead of the Labor Party's national conference in December.

It could come as early as Monday or after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth finishes at the end of next week.

Left wing and some Right-wing MPs who are delegates to the Labor conference will push for a reversal of the party's platform, which currently opposes gay marriage.

If approved, a path would be cleared for Ms Gillard to call for a conscience vote on the issue in parliament.

But it is not certain to be passed in parliament, with many conservative MPs deeply opposed. Government sources said despite supporting a conscience vote, it wouldn't necessarily mean the PM would support gay marriage itself.

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Ms Gillard is on the record as opposing gay marriage - and claims her position has been consistent with the Labor Party's national policy platform. But she has also stated previously she would not allow Labor MPs a free vote on it.

Labor MPs in favour of a free vote said that it made political sense for Ms Gillard to announce support for a conscience vote to take the heat of the debate at the conference.

"The PM can announce her position, she can do that by expressing her own views without them being binding," said a Labor source.

Originally published as Gillard's free vote on gay marriage