Same-sex marriage: Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduces bill to Federal Parliament, urging MPs to 'step up'

Updated

Labor leader Bill Shorten has introduced a marriage equality bill to Federal Parliament, urging MPs to "step up".

The Opposition Leader's private members bill proposes replacing the words "man and woman" with the term "two people" to define who can be legally married.

But the Coalition does not support the legislation and the House of Representatives voted to adjourn debate.

The bill is not expected to be considered again until Parliament's spring sitting.

Mr Shorten has called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to grant his MPs a free vote on the issue.

"We cannot assume this change is inevitable," he said.

"We cannot imagine it will just happen — we the 44th Parliament have to step up — to rise to the moment."

We say to all young gay people: we are proud of you for who you are, you belong. Bill Shorten

Mr Shorten said Ireland's 'yes' vote in a referendum on same-sex marriage just over a week ago had stirred him to action.

"When someone has found not just another person they can live with, but a person they can't live without, then they should have the same right to the true qualities of a bond that runs deeper than any law," he said.

"And we say to all young gay people: we are proud of you for who you are, you belong."

Mr Shorten rejected criticism from Greens leader Richard Di Natale that it was a mistake to "go it alone" and that Labor should wait until there was support from all major parties for a piece of legislation.

"If Richard Di Natale's waiting for Tony Abbott to support marriage equality, then it will never happen," Mr Shorten said in an earlier press conference.

Mr Di Natale wants the Prime Minister to allow Liberal MPs a free vote "because the moment that happens, this reform is as good as done".

Mr Abbott acknowledged legalising marriage for same-sex couples was a "significant issue", but said his priority was pushing Parliament to pass the budget's multi-billion-dollar small business tax breaks.

"We don't have to do everything immediately," he said.

"What we need to do right now is get the small business budget boost through the Parliament, that's the focus of the Government."

Labor MPs currently have the right to vote by their conscience on the issue, though Mr Shorten's deputy Tanya Plibersek — who seconded the bill today — has been pushing for the party to have a binding vote in favour of marriage equality.

Lyle Shelton from the Australian Christian Lobby has criticised the push towards same-sex marriage as one that disregards the rights of children.

"This is legislation that requires some children to miss out on a mother and a father — and that's something a civil society should never do," he said.

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Topics: lgbt, marriage, community-and-society, federal-parliament, alp, government-and-politics, australia

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