Abbott promises ‘full and frank’ debate on gay marriage in Oz

With Prime Minister Tony Abbott promising a “full and frank” debate on legalising gay marriage in response to an opposition-backed push for marriage equality in Australia, a momentum for a bill on this matter is building up in the country.

Opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten on Tuesday reportedly said he would bring a private member’s bill in parliament next week which will “bring about marriage equality in Australia,” following Ireland’s successful referendum on the issue. 

“Our current law excludes some individuals, and to me, that is unacceptable,” Shorten said. “For marriage equality to happen, Tony Abbott has to give his MPs a free vote.” 

Anna Burke of Labor Party was the latest MP to extend support for same-sex marriage, taking the lower House support to 75 MPs and only 76?votes are required to pass a bill.

Liberal Party leader Abbott, who has so far refused to hold a referendum on the issue, said procedures related to the bill would be followed “to the letter”. “...It is coming again before the parliament for vote, it’s a matter that the (Liberal) Party room will consider, as you’d expect,” Abbott told reporters.

“I’m sure at that time we’d have a very full and frank and candid and decent debate inside the party room,” he said. Abbott, however, asked Shorten not to politicise the issue.