LGBTI groups have declared the election a win for marriage equality, with at least seven opponents of same-sex marriage voted out and two new LGBTI MPs elected for the Coalition.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Pflag) noted seven Coalition MPs who oppose same-sex marriage lost their seats: Andrew Nikolic, Brett Whiteley, Jamie Briggs, Peter Hendy, Russell Matheson, Michelle Landry and Louise Markus.

The Pflag national spokeswoman, Shelley Argent, said given the number of “pro-equality Labor MPs replacing Liberals who were against [same-sex marriage] there is now a clear majority of members in favour [of it]”.

“A free vote would deliver marriage equality straight away,” she claimed.

Argent claimed the Coalition lost votes over its proposed marriage equality plebiscite, although a Fairfax-Ipsos poll released on election day found the majority of Australians in favour.

“Malcolm Turnbull must acknowledge he has no mandate for a plebiscite and drop the idea,” she said.

“If he doesn’t, we will do our best to kill it on the floor of parliament and push for a free vote instead.”

The fate of the plebiscite may depend on which party is able to form government in what could be a hung parliament.

But the close numbers in the House of Representatives also opens up the possibility that a private members bill to legalise same-sex marriage might be successful, regardless of who forms government.

Labor and the Greens have not ruled out blocking a plebiscite on same-sex marriage in order to force a parliamentary vote. The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, has said Labor would not accept Malcolm Turnbull’s “deal” with the conservative wing of his party to hold a popular vote.

Both Labor and the Greens want to see the enabling legislation before determining their position.

Australian Marriage Equality said the election had delivered an increase in parliamentary support for marriage equality across all political parties. AME campaigned in 30 mostly Coalition held seats in favour of marriage equality and against a plebiscite.

“In many seats where AME has run its election campaign, we have seen support shift from communities and MPs for marriage equality,” said AME national spokeswoman, Shirleene Robinson.

“Our national team of volunteers and supporters worked tirelessly in seats such as Capricornia, Macarthur, Hindmarsh and Barton where we now have MPs backing marriage equality.”

Those four seats were all gains or projected gains by the Labor party from the Coalition, although Landry’s projected loss in Capricornia is still in doubt.

“This election saw a record number of LGBTI candidates and we welcome new supporting [Coalition] MPs such as Tim Wilson in Goldstein and Trevor Evans in Brisbane,” Robinson said.

Wilson and Evans are both gay, two of a record number who contested the election.

Robinson said marriage equality should now be achieved with a free vote in parliament.



“The support levels right across the political spectrum is wonderfully encouraging and shows that marriage equality is an issue that transcends party politics.”

Bill Shorten has promised to introduce a marriage equality bill as his first act if he becomes prime minister, and to pass it within 100 days.

Malcolm Turnbull, if he remains prime minister, will maintain his policy in favour of a plebiscite, a key commitment to the conservative wing of his party.

Turnbull has not said what he would do if the Senate blocked a same-sex marriage plebiscite, and his weakened position within the party due to a swing away from the government may make forcing a parliamentary vote impossible.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott warning no parliamentary vote should be held if the plebiscite were rejected, presenting the popular vote as the only option.