Same-Sex Marriage bill introduced to Australian parliament Monday Aug 17,2015

 

A controversial bill to legalise same-sex marriage has been introduced to the Australian parliament on Monday Aug 17,2015

The private member's bill comes amid heated debate among government MPs about whether to change the law or put the matter to a plebiscite.

 

The bill was introduced by government backbencher Warren Entsch, one of several government backbenchers who plan to defy Mr Abbott by crossing the floor of the parliament to vote in favour of marriage equality

The government's official position is that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has denied government MPs a free vote on any bill legalising same-sex marriage.

The Bill allows couples, regardless of "sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status" to marry.
Australia's Marriage Act limits marriage to a union of a man and a woman.

The ban on a free vote for government MPs means it is likely to fail

Note

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said the matter should be "put to the people" in a non-binding plebiscite after the next general election, due in 2016

Officially, the ruling Liberal-National coalition does not support gay marriage

The Opposition Labor party endorses gay marriage, but allows its MPs a conscience vote on legislation

Meanwhile, cross bench senators have backed an Australian Greens bill calling for a gay marriage plebiscite before the election

Opinion polls taken over the past year show between 60% and 72% of Australians support gay marriage