Tony Abbott’s gay sister believes gay marriage will be legal by the end of the year

TONY Abbott’s gay sister believes she’ll be able to marry soon, as a Liberal MP whose mind was changed by a ‘good-looking sheila’ hatches a radical plan.

Tony Abbott's sister

TONY Abbott’s gay sister believes same-sex marriage will be legal in Australia by the end of the year as politicians from opposing parties agree to join forces on the issue.

Federal Liberal MP Warren Entsch and Labor Graham Perrett have proposed a cross-party private members bill as a circuit breaker to achieve marriage equality.

Mr Abbott’s outspoken sister Christine Forster, who is engaged to a woman and is herself a member of the Liberal party, backed the pair’s move, saying gay marriage was inevitable in the wake of Ireland’s historic ‘Yes’ vote.

“The Irish decision, watching what unfolded in conservative Ireland ... to see that astounding result ... that would have told any thinking opponent of this reform that it is inevitable in a developed Western democracy like Australia,” she told ABC’s Lateline.

“That will be for me one of the proudest moments of my life.

“To think that this reform comes under the prime ministership of Tony Abbott ... I think it’s entirely appropriate that it would come under the prime ministership of Tony Abbott.

“At the end of the day I’m sure he will understand that this is good and fair for everybody and it will be great for Australia.”

Mr Entsch said same-sex marriage law had to be owned by all parties: “This doesn’t need one individual’s brand on it.”

The colourful Queenslander, known as Parliament’s “progressive redneck” and an ardent gay rights supporter, told Fairfax he was convinced to take up the cause after a run-in with a “good looking sheila” in a pub in his 20s.

The woman involved had been the male cousin of an ex-girlfriend, who had left the town to undergo a sex change.

“That amazed me,” Mr Entsch said. “Imagine having the courage to do that.”

- with AAP

Christine Foster and her fiancee Virginia Edwards. The pair plans to marry and say Tony Abbott has already accepted a wedding invitation.