The Australian Government’s plan to hold a non-legally binding vote on same-sex marriage by the Australian people that will cost $160 million has been put in doubt after two government backbenchers revealed they would still vote against the reform even if the poll was successful.

Plebiscite votes in Australian law are used to judge the will of the Australian people in areas of the law which are not covered by the constitution but cannot change the law by themselves.

Referendums in Australian law are used to change the Australian Constitution but the constitution does not define marriage in Australia and the High Court of Australia has already determined that it is the Parliament that must pass a bill to legalize same-sex marriage for the reform to be achieved.

The plan to hold a plebiscite after the next Australian federal election was inherited by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull from his predecessor Tony Abbott as a compromise deal to secure the support of both the pro-gay and anti-gay wings of the Liberal/National Coalition.

However conservative Christian government senators Cory Bernardi and Eric Abetz have poured water on even that compromise, telling news media that they would reject the results of a plebiscite if it contradicted their faith positions.

Both men are some of the most outspoken homophobes in the Australian Parliament.

Bernardi and Abetz were criticized for their stance by colleagues, with Liberal National MP Warren Entsch calling it ‘bizarre’ and ‘extraordinary’ that politicians would openly state their intention to defy the people’s will and Liberal MP Steve Ciobo calling their positions ‘passing strange.’

Since then Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has joined them in publicly stating that she will not vote for the legalization of same-sex marriage if a plebiscite is successful.

This is despite her own brother being a gay man who wants the right to marry.

The Australian campaign for the legalization of same-sex marriage says Bernardi and Abetz’ comments highlight the need for a free vote in the Australian Parliament to settle the issue rather than an expensive non-legally binding vote by the Australian public which some politicians won’t even honor.

‘There’s no point having an expensive public vote if politicians won’t abide by the outcome,’ Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said.

‘A plebiscite was proposed as a way to smooth over divisions within the Coalition on marriage equality but clearly that has failed.’

‘Many people are concerned that we are having this expensive public vote simply for internal party politics, when we already know Australians support fairness in marriage. The onus is on Malcolm Turnbull to allow his party a free vote on marriage equality as soon as possible so Australia can move on.’