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In the wake of New York’s decision to legalise same sex marriage PM Julia Gillard has denied Australia is behind the times.

At a press conference this morning the Prime Minister reaffirmed her stance on gay marriage.

‘We’ll make our own decisions in this country based on what’s right for Australia – my views in this area are well known,’ she said.

The PM addressed hundreds of delegates this morning at the biennial WA State Labor Conference at held Ascot Racegrounds. Gay marriage is just one of several topics to be debated at the conference which may create a clear split between WA Labor and the Federal Government.

In her address, the PM said she couldn’t ‘imagine us apart’ as a society.

‘It includes the whole community,’ said the PM in describing the Labor party, ‘truly understanding and representing people in every place.’

At the press conference, the PM denied the Federal Government was out of touch with its state branches despite different platforms on issues like same-sex marriage.

‘I think you’ll find that around the country whether its here in Western Australia or in other places, Labor party members come to Labor party conferences full of ideas and wanting to have their say.’, she said.

‘My responsibility as Prime Minister, with the motions being passed here in Western Australia or whether it’s Queensland or anywhere else, is to make sure I’m making the right decisions for the nation’s future.’

WA Labor delegates will vote on a motion this afternoon on whether to change their platform in support for same-sex marriage.

If the motion is passed, WA Labor will join Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory with state Labor branches that have passed motions for the Federal Government to legalise gay marriage.

While the Victorian state branch failed to pass a motion this year, it did pass a similar motion in 2009.

Benn Dorrington

Out in Perth