Same-sex marriage: Prime Minister Tony Abbott continues to play down chances of gay marriage vote

Updated

The Prime Minister has again played down the chances of a private member's bill on gay marriage being debated and put to a vote.

It was revealed yesterday two Government MPs — Warren Entsch and Teresa Gambaro — joined efforts to create a cross-party bill allowing same-sex marriage.

Tony Abbott indicated it was unlikely to actually get to a vote.

"It's quite unusual for private member's bills to come on for debate and vote in the Parliament," he said.

"I've been in the Parliament now for 21 years and there's only been, from memory, two or three occasions when a private member's bill has come on for debate and vote.

"The other point I want to make is that this Government was elected to grow jobs, to promote a stronger economy, to secure our nation against the various challenges that we face at home and abroad and that's what we're doing.

"We're getting on with the job that we're elected to do and as far as I'm concerned that will always be the focus of this Government."

A committee of MPs decides which bills can be debated, which means the push could be stopped by process.

Seven of the 11 politicians on the committee are Coalition MPs opposed to gay marriage.

Asked whether the committee will kill off the latest push, Mr Abbott said: "The normal processes will be followed."

"I think that this is an important subject but so are all the subjects that people bring to the Parliament by way of private member's legislation," he said.

"Let's see what the selection committee decides but the point I make is that we will treat this in an absolutely normal and straightforward way."

Coalition conservatives criticise colleagues, media in bid to kill off private member's bill 'ambush'

Liberal frontbencher Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said Mr Entsch and Ms Gambaro's move was an "ambush" and "played into the hands of the Government's political opponents".

It's very unfortunate that Tony Abbott keeps putting up different obstacles to marriage equality coming to a vote. Labor senator Penny Wong

Government whip Andrew Nikolic described the renewed debate as "a poor attempt by someone to generate momentum on an issue where there is none".

Mr Nikolic is part of the committee that selects bills to be debated and made it clear it would not be on the agenda soon.

"Anyone who thinks this should be prioritised over economic or national security issues has got rocks in their head and is totally misreading the needs of the Australian people," he said.

The leader of the Government in the Senate, Eric Abetz, accused the media of promoting same-sex marriage and misinterpreting the mood of the Australian people.

"The media always will report things like the Pitcairn Island parliament of 48 people voting in favour of gay marriage but not reporting the Austrian parliament voting 110 to 26 against," he said.

He has also suggested frontbenchers supporting same-sex marriage should consider the Liberal Party tradition of resigning from their portfolios.

"The tradition is there for all to see and I think it is an honourable tradition and it is a tradition that I have tried to follow in my 21 years in the Parliament and I think it is the only fair and reasonable position in relation to your other colleagues," Senator Abetz said.

Coalition backbencher Ewen Jones wants Mr Abbott to allow a free vote.

"There are strongly held views on this that there should be no change," Mr Jones said.

"I think those of us who have previously stood by what our party policy was - and what we took to the 2010 election - [are] ready to deal with this and move on."

Labor senator Penny Wong said the only person who can take the issue forward is Mr Abbott.

"It's entirely a gift of the Prime Minister," she said.

"He can decide whether this bill for marriage equality is properly debated and whether it is brought to a vote.

"It's very unfortunate that Tony Abbott keeps putting up different obstacles to marriage equality coming to a vote."

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, marriage, abbott-tony, australia

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