The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government said on Friday that it has started to collaborate with the Tasmanian government to develop same-sex marriage legislation.

ACT''s Legislative Assembly passed this week a bill to restore legally binding ceremonies for gay couples, while Tasmania plans to introduce legislation for same-sex unions by the end of 2012 and would give Labor MPs a conscience vote.

"Marriage equality is an issue that deserves a collaborative approach. I am pleased that my Tasmanian counterpart, Attorney-General Brian Wightman, has agreed to proceed with discussions that would see our two progressive governments work together to further state and territory-based legislation to promote same-sex marriage," ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell was quoted by ABC.

He said ACT would monitor how the federal Parliament would debate on the issue after Prime Minister Julia Gillard allowed a conscience vote on the matter for Labor Party members while Coalition leader Tony Abbott insists on Liberal members to follow the party stand against gay marriages.

The Senate debated on Thursday a marriage equality bill filed by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. It was the support of the ACT Greens that made the passage of the bill restoring legally binding ceremonies.

"Cupid's arrow does not discriminate and neither should the law," Ms Hanson-Young was quoted by Perth Now.

ACT Liberals reiterated their opposition to same-sex marriages. "Put quite simply, this bill offends not only the literal words of the Commonwealth Marriage Act but its spirit and certainly its intent. It also offends the fundamental philosophy of marriage as well as its practicalities," Canberra Liberals law and justice spokeswoman Vicki Dunne was quoted by Brisbane Times.

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