Abbott retreats from gay marriage vote

Australia's Prime Minister, Tony Abbott.

Barely a month after indicating he would allow a free vote by Coalition MPs, paving the way for the probable legalisation of same-sex marriage, Tony Abbott appears to be on the retreat, under pressure from arch-conservatives in his own party.

After news leaked out that two Liberal MPs, Warren Entsch and Teresa Gambaro, have agreed to co-sponsor a cross-party bill, Abbott - who signalled last month that he favoured that approach - poured cold water on its prospects.

The Prime Minister said yesterday that the private member's bill - expected to be introduced to Parliament on August 11 - would be subjected to the "normal processes", meaning it was highly unlikely to be debated and voted on.

He also made it clear that same-sex marriage was not a priority, saying: "This Government was elected to grow jobs, to promote the stronger economy, to secure our nation against the various challenges that we face at home and abroad."

His comments, which follow a concerted push by right-wing Liberals to halt the momentum towards same-sex marriage, dismayed advocates of gay unions, who include growing numbers on both sides of politics.

After Labor introduced a bill in late May, Abbott - who personally opposes change - declared it an "important issue" that ought to be "owned by the Parliament and not by any particular party".

That was interpreted as sanctioning a multi-party approach, and as indicating a willingness to allow the Coalition party room to decide on a free vote. Currently, MPs and Senators are bound by the party's policy of conserving the status quo.

A conscience vote would enable frontbenchers such as Malcolm Turnbull to vote for change. And while most Liberals are opposed, it is believed that those in favour could combine with Labor and the Greens to get a bill narrowly passed.

Turnbull has said he expects same-sex marriage to be legal by the end of this year - a view echoed by Abbott's gay sister, Christine Forster. Right-wingers are pushing back against the sense of inevitability bolstered by Ireland's referendum and the US Supreme Court ruling.

Eric Abetz, the Government's Senate leader, warned yesterday that legalising same-sex marriage could "open a Pandora's box for all sorts of other potential possibilities", including polyamory - relationships between more than two people.

"Let's not be under any illusion that once you start unpicking the definition of marriage, there will be other consequences," he told Sky News.