Tony Abbott’s warning to colleagues over same-sex marriage free vote

TONY Abbott has issued a stern warning to his federal Liberal colleagues pushing for a free vote on same-sex marriage, insisting they are “honour-bound” to oppose it without a plebiscite.

• REVEALED: HOW MARRIAGE REBELS BETRAYED VOTERS

TONY Abbott has issued a stern warning to his federal Liberal colleagues pushing for a free vote on same-sex marriage, insisting they are “honour-bound” to oppose it without a plebiscite.

The former prime minister says moves by government backbenchers to draft a bill on marriage equality and push for a parliamentary vote are “fraught”. Mr Abbott warned it would dramatically deepen the trust deficit plaguing politicians.

He scolded colleagues who “insist on having public second thoughts about our own policy”, insisting they hold a minority view within the coalition ahead of what’s expected to be a heated special partyroom meeting on the issue in Canberra on Monday afternoon.

Warning... PM Tony Abbott

“Keeping faith with the electorate should weigh just as heavily as deeply-held personal belief,” he writes in The Australian.

“Like it or not, coalition MPs are honour-bound to oppose same-sex marriage in the absence of a plebiscite that’s supported it.” Mr Abbott’s sentiments are supported by cabinet minister Arthur Sinodinos, who insists the government needs to keep its promises.

Backbencher Dean Smith has drafted his own marriage equality bill and together with Trent Zimmerman, Tim Wilson, Trevor Evans and Warren Entsch, will push for a parliamentary vote on the bill after circulating it to members over the weekend.

But there’s speculation a postal plebiscite proposal will be put to cabinet on Monday and taken to the party room for approval.

Backbencher Dean Smith has drafted his own marriage equality bill.

Mr Zimmerman says that is possible, but he’s hopeful the rogue MPs can persuade their colleagues.

“I’m always an optimist,” he told ABC radio.

Senator Smith says a postal plebiscite is “useless” insisting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is wrong to continue to support a plebiscite. “The plebiscite is a D-grade response to a defining A-grade social issue,” he told the Nine Network.

Mr Wilson says his electorate of Goldstein has been revealed in numerous polls as having the highest support for marriage equality.

But he pledged to represent the views of those in favour and the 20 per cent who oppose same-sex marriage.

“People who feel strongly against a change in the law, they want their say through a vote and I will communicate that position to the party room because that’s what a good representative should do,” he told ABC TV.

Protesters march through the Sydney CBD demanding recognition of same-sex marriage. Picture: AFP

Senator Smith’s bill, expected to be supported by Labor, allows for two people to marry regardless of their gender, while enshrining protections and exemptions for religious communities.

That includes religious ministers, civil celebrants, and businesses linked to a religious body who refuse to marry same-sex couples.

Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly says there are some good points in the bill, but he will continue to back a plebiscite.

“The plebiscite will pass and we will have same-sex marriage,” he told ABC radio.

Mr Kelly, who does not support same-sex marriage, has vowed to abide by the result of a plebiscite and vote that way in parliament.