Oz gay debate
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd said yesterday he would push for a referendum on gay marriage unless all Australian parliamentarians were given a free vote on the issue.
Rudd has promised Labour Party members a conscience vote but opposition coalition lawmakers are bound by policy insisting that marriage be between a man and a woman.
The conservatives are opposed to changing the Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to wed.
The head of campaign group Australian Marriage Equality, Rodney Croome, said a referendum would be divisive and not achieve a result because a vote in parliament would still be needed to change the law. — Sapa-DPA