Federal parliamentarians should have a conscience vote on gay marriage rather than deciding along party lines, Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says.
Senator Hanson-Young said Prime Minster Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott were out of step with community attitudes on same-sex marriage.
Both Labor and the coalition oppose legislating for same-sex marriages, while the Greens support the motion.
“The prime minister and the opposition leader are, of course, entitled to their personal views, but I do not believe they should be imposing their views on the rest of the community on this issue,” she told the Senate on Wednesday.
“All members of this place should be able to have conscience vote on this matter.”
Marriage as defined under the Marriage Act 1961 was the union of a man and a woman.
Hence it was not possible for same-sex couples to marry under Australian law.
She said polling showed most Australians supported same-sex marriages.
“I do honestly believe with the 75 per cent of Australians who believe that this move to marriage equality is inevitable.
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