An Australian MP has come out with one of the most bizarre reasons for opposing same-sex marriage.

The bizarre comes from Kevin Andrews, the Liberal MP for Menzies, who has opposed equal marriage ahead of a planned postal ballot on the issue.

Challenged over his opposition during a debate on Sky News, Mr Andrews explained: “There are all kinds of affectionate relationships… I have an affectionate relationship with my cycling mates. We go cycling on the weekends, but that’s not marriage.”

He added: “Why doesn’t the law have a place in those sort of relationships?

“It doesn’t, because the law has a place traditionally and historically, across cultures and civilisations because it is there about the protection of the vulnerable. It shouldn’t go beyond that.”

Mr Andrews was challenged as to whether he was suggesting that same-sex unions are of a lower emotional status than opposite-sex marriages.

He responded: “I’m not at all saying that at all… I have commitments to friends, I have affectionate relationships with friends as well, the question here is, what is the role of the law.”

.@kevinandrewsmp: I have a relationship with my cycling mates, but the law has no place in that relationship https://t.co/3nKBUCzjYS pic.twitter.com/KusSCp7232 — Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 14, 2017

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has given the green light to an informal ‘postal vote’ of Australians on equal marriage, which will be advisory and non-binding in nature.

In a bid to circumvent Parliament, the vote will be carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which means it will not be regulated under Commonwealth Electoral Act rules.

It was agreed last week that the vote will not go ahead before a legal challenge is heard.

At a preliminary hearing in the High Court, the government agreed that it will not post out any papers in the same-sex postal vote before 12 September, to allow the case to be heard.

The case has been listed for an urgent hearing on 5-6 September, with further directions made by the Court for the filing of materials and submissions prior to the hearing.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is representing Andrew Wilkie, Member for Denison, PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Felicity Marlowe, a mother in a same-sex relationship with three young children.

PIAC CEO Jonathon Hunyor said: “Our clients are seeking to stop the government proceeding with the postal vote on same sex marriage on the basis that the government does not have the power to conduct the postal vote without parliamentary approval.

“Our clients sought an urgent hearing by the High Court and an injunction to stop the postal vote going ahead before this case could be heard.

“The government agreed that nothing would be sent before the case is heard and the Court listed the case for an urgent hearing on 5-6 September,

“This is an important first step and we are pleased that the important constitutional issues raised by this case will now be considered urgently by the High Court.

“We look forward to making the case in full at a hearing in September.”

He said previously: “We will be arguing that by going ahead without the authorisation of parliament, the government is acting beyond its power.”

“We will argue that the government cannot validly undertake a postal vote and also that it cannot fund the exercise without parliamentary approval.”

“These are important issues about the way that power is exercised by governments and the role of parliament in our democracy.”

PFLAG National Spokesperson, Shelley Argent, said: “PFLAG is taking this case because the parents of LGBTI Australians don’t want to see our children subject to such a demeaning, hate-filled and pointless vote that will go nowhere and resolve nothing.”

Felicity Marlowe said: “I am worried about the impact the public campaign will have in my children, on my partner and all rainbow families across Australia.

“It will be a full-time occupation for the next three months for my partner and I to protect my children from the flyers delivered to our home stating that ‘children need a mother and a father – so vote no to marriage equality’, or to stop them seeing any billboards or posters in our local shopping centre or along the major roads we take to school every morning.”

Andrew Wilkie said: “I have consistently advocated against executive overreach of the kind we see with the postal vote on marriage equality. Parliament should decide if, when and how the people are consulted, and how it’s paid for.”