SAME-SEX marriage is out, but civil unions could be in, says Higgins Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer.

Ms O’Dwyer addressed Parliament on gay marriage last week, backing the Coalition’s position that marriage should be between a man and a woman, but said civil unions should be an alternative for same-sex couples.

Churches, mosques or synagogues should not be “forced to marry anyone they don’t want to”, she said.

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For AME’s paper on civil unions: .