Malcolm Turnbull warns Liberal Party rebels on private members bill to introduce same-sex marriage

PM Malcolm Turnbull has tried to head off a revolt over gay marriage threatening his leadership and the Coalition agreement itself, calling on Trevor Evans and Dean Smith to support his policy of a plebiscite.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faces a revolt on government policy

• Malcolm Turnbull faces spill over gay marriage
• Christopher Pyne: Minister’s divisive boast on same-sex marriage

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has tried to head off a revolt over gay marriage that could threaten his leadership and the Coalition agreement as leading activists in the Liberal Party insist they are willing to blow up the government over the issue.

Mr Turnbull has personally telephoned Queensland Liberal MP Trevor Evans and WA Liberal MP Dean Smith, who are finalising a Private Member’s Bill on gay marriage, entreating them to support Government policy of a plebiscite.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faces a revolt on government policy

Liberal MP Warren Entsch. Picture: Justin Brierty

But Liberal MP Warren Entsch said the group was forging ahead with a plan to disseminate their gay marriage bill before Tuesday’s party room meeting, even in the face of warnings from the Right it could cause a leadership spill or breakup the Coalition agreement.

“Be under no illusion, irrespective of what you call it, any form of plebiscite is dead, cremated and cannot be resurrected,” Mr Entsch said. “In my view, the only way to resolve this issue once and for all is with a vote in the parliament.”

Read Warren Entsch’s FULL STATEMENT

Queensland MP Trevor Evans.

Senator Dean Smith.

Shannon Molloy: The secret gay plot to ruin marriage for everyone

The Daily Telegraph asked Mr Entsch repeatedly yesterday if he was prepared to continue to pursue the bill if it meant the right would spill Turnbull’s leadership or it would break the Coalition agreement with the Nationals.

“If they want to make threats they’re entitled to do it,” he said.

Liberal Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne.

His remarks follow revelations in The Daily Telegraph senior Liberals on the Right are preparing to move a spill, with a ticket led by Peter Dutton, with Greg Hunt as deputy, if Mr Turnbull cannot control his own faction.

The agreement between the Nationals and the Liberals, signed by Mr Turnbull and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, states that the Government would only have a plebiscite on gay marriage. Allowing a free-vote would be a deliberate breach of the Coalition agreement and would be grounds for a split between the Nationals and Liberals.

The Nationals were reluctant to even accept the policy of a plebiscite in the first place, detesting the concept of changing the definition of marriage, and are also incredibly frustrated that Mr Turnbull cannot control his own faction.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson.

A frustrated Mr Turnbull said a plebiscite on the issue was Government policy.

“We have committed (to a policy) that every Australian will have a vote and the question you should be asking, if you care to take the time, is of Bill Shorten and say to him why has he gone back on his commitment that every Australian should have a vote?” he said.

“We took that position to the election, we gave that commitment and that remains our policy.”

The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Turnbull has spoken to Mr Evans and Mr Smith to try to calm the waters, but the moderate group appear to be undermining his authority by forging ahead with their plans.

Queensland’s Liberal National Party president Gary Spence yesterday afternoon sent a letter to members criticising both Mr Evans and Mr Entsch for “canvassing options to introduce a Private Member’s Bill and to abandon a plebiscite in favour of a conscience vote by Parliament.”