Liberal and National MPs on both sides of the gay marriage debate say the Coalition should be allowed a conscience vote on the issue.
The Nationals deputy leader, Barnaby Joyce, told the Herald the party was not opposed to a conscience vote but it was more than likely it would vote as a bloc against any bill supporting same-sex marriage.
”We don’t necessarily have a problem with conscience votes,” he said. ”There is always the option to cross the floor, unlike in the Labor Party. If there is a whole Coalition push for a conscience vote there won’t be a problem from us. It is important to give people their say.”
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Senator Joyce said his opposition to same-sex marriage had not changed.
The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has declined to grant a conscience vote in the Coalition, saying there are not enough MPs who support gay marriage to warrant a policy change.
However, as well as the Nationals, several Liberals support a conscience vote, regardless of their views, including the Liberal senator Simon Birmingham.
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