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Prime Minister Julia Gillard has hardened her opposition to marriage equality, suggesting that she may even defy a reversal of the ALP’s position if it votes for a change to the Marriage Act at its National Conference in December.

In an interview on Sky News this afternoon, Gillard went further than her long-running line that she’d defer debate until National Conference to set the party platform on any change in policy regarding the Marriage Act, telling host David Speers that the National Conference doesn’t set government positions.

“What the National Conference does is it sets the platform, the aspirations for our political party but always government, Labor Caucus in government makes decisions on government policy,” she said.

When challenged as to whether she’d ignore the National Conference if it decides in favour of gay marriage, she said: “I’ve made my personal views clear and they’ll continue to be my views.

“I’m not as Prime Minister going to sit here and dictate who can come to National Conference and say what. That wouldn’t be in accord with my general view that we’re a party of government and a party of ideas and it’s a good thing that passionate Labor people come and debate ideas.”