Same-sex marriage: Conservative Coalition members intend to use party and parliamentary processes to kill off attempt at change

Sydney : The Coalition party room looms as the biggest hurdle to changing the definition of marriage, with the vast majority of Liberal and National MPs and senators opposed to it.
And the conservative supporters of traditional marriage intend to use party and parliamentary procedures to kill off the latest attempt at change.
Liberal/National MP Warren Entsch is planning to move a private member’s bill in the spring sittings, backed by his Coalition colleague Teresa Gambaro, seconded by Labor MP Terri Butler and supported by a handful of other MPs.Details of the cross-party bill leaked late yesterday and were seen by some as a sign of progress towards same-sex marriage, but Prime Minister Tony Abbott has a different view.
His office issued a statement reiterating Mr Abbott’s support for the Liberal Party’s current policy “that marriage is between a man and a woman”. He has also made it clear that the marriage debate is not his Government’s priority and that there is a long way to go before Parliament debates it.That signals a rules-based battle which is stacked in favour of those who are opposed to change.A Government-dominated committee decides which bills are debated and when, and Mr Abbott’s view on marriage is reflected by the majority of Liberal and National MPs and senators.The Australian Marriage Equality website has crunched the numbers, based on public statements by politicians and the ABC has made an amendment based on recent interviews.That analysis shows 18 Coalition MPs and senators support same-sex marriage but 79 oppose it.
Another 27 are either undecided or have not yet declared their position.So, long before the question of a conscience vote is raised in the party room, Mr Entsch’s bill will have to clear a process obstacle course.