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A gay rights activist holds a placard during a rally supporting same-sex marriage, in Sydney, Australia May 31, 2015. Bill Shorten, leader of Australia's opposition Labour Party introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage on June 1, 2015, adding the backing of a major party to growing public support for the issue after last month's landmark 'yes' vote in Ireland. Shorten introduced the bill, the first by a leader of a major Australian political party, in the government-dominated lower house of parliament despite opposition from conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who is not expected to allow it to come up for a vote. Picture taken May 31, 2015. Reuters/David Gray

After about a six hours long debate with the Coalition party MPs, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott manoeuvred the ultra-sensitive issue of same-sex marriage by deciding to leave it for the people to take the call rather than involving the Parliament into it. The prime minister indicated a public referendum to be held after next election.

While Mr Abbott and his conservative supporters still stand by their existing policy of marriage, which is a union between a man and a woman, he indicated that the party is open to a cultural drift on same-sex marriage even though might lead to internal conflict within the party ranks. The majority of the government backbench supported same sex marriage but about a half of the ministry debated for allowing a free vote. A considerable number of key ministers are in favour of the same-sex marriage, including Malcolm Turnbull.

"The disposition of the party room this evening is that our position going into the next election should be that in a subsequent term of Parliament, this is a matter that should rightly be put to the Australian people," Abbott said. "There was a strong view in the party room today that if we were to drop the policy, even if we were to adjust the policy to the extent of having a free vote, a lot of people who voted for us were going to feel dudded."

According to ABC news, the prime minister said the government supports the traditional stand on marriage, that it is a union between a man and a woman. But he pointed out that if there is a possibility of a change, the people of Australia should decide. However, he denied allegations that the coalition is using delay tactics on the issue.

Abbott has reiterated the Coalition policy this morning, saying that if Liberal members cannot support the policy, they should leave the frontbench. Initially, the prime minister strictly maintained that the issue of legalising gay marriage is for the Parliament to decide upon, rejecting the idea of public referendum on it thrice.

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