Let's vote on gay marriage now - Milne

Pro-gay marriage activists kiss in Paris after French lawmakers legalised same-sex marriage. MP Tony Windsor is urging the government to have a referendum on the issue. Source: AFP

FINANCE Minister Penny Wong has questioned Independent MP Tony Windsor's idea of having a referendum on same-sex marriage laws.

Mr Windsor wants the controversial issue taken out of the hands of politicians and instead let the people decide.

"Polls on gay marriage say it's what the population wants," Mr Windsor is quoted as saying by Fairfax media.

"A way to resolve it is through a referendum. It's a bit like the gun debate in America - the politicians appear to be out of step with the people."

Mr Windsor voted against the most recent same-sex marriage bill but said his views had softened after attending a civil union ceremony last year.

Mr Windsor says he supports the idea of a plebiscite on the issue but clarified he won't necessarily be leading the push to make it happen.

He said both sides of the gay marriage debate claimed they had the numbers so "if enough Australians wanted one" a plebiscite would be an opportunity to have the issue resolved.

"What tends to happen is politicians get captive to various interest groups," Mr Windsor told ABC Radio.

"It's a bit like the gun debate in America - the politicians appear to be out of step with the people."

But Finance Minister Penny Wong, who is in a same-sex relationship, said she would "sound a note of caution" about the idea.

She said a plebiscite would be a "very high bar to jump".

"My view is the parliament has a responsibility and will one day discharge that responsibility," Senator Wong told Sky News today.

Senator Wong pointed to the 1999 republic referendum which failed across all states despite having strong public support.

"John Howard and Tony Abbott ran a very good fear campaign and we lost that referendum," she said.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told reporters today that he thought the September election was not the right time for a referendum on gay marriage.

"I think the coming election should be uncomplicated by other matters...I think the election should be a referendum on the carbon tax .. the current government, do you really want three more years of this?

"If there's ever to be a plebiscite on this subject it should be held quite separate from this election," he said.

But Australian Greens leader Christine Milne says holding a national poll on gay marriage is a "distraction" and the real stumbling block is Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's position.

"The only impediment is that the coalition won't provide a conscience vote," Senator Milne said.

"Tony Abbott should give a conscience vote to his members in both houses of parliament and we can legislate this before the election."

Australian Marriage Equality national convener Rodney Croome said a plebiscite was unnecessary and potentially divisive.

"We fear cashed-up opponents of marriage equality would exploit a referendum to polarise the electorate and demonise gay and lesbian people in a way that will impact badly, particularly on young gay people," Mr Croome said in a statement.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says he generally believes parliament should decide issues like gay marriage but a plebiscite could be a way to break the impasse.

"When you've got a vexed, intractable issue sometimes a referendum ... might be a way to cut through the issue," he told the Seven Network.

"A vote, a referendum, might be a circuit breaker."

Marriage equality advocates, buoyed by decisions in France and New Zealand in recent weeks to pass laws in favour of gay marriage, hope supporters of same-sex marriage will make take the issue to the nation's leaders at the upcoming federal election.

France last week became the 14th nation to allow gay marriage after its parliament voted in favour of a bill legalising same-sex marriages and adoptions for gay couples.

Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said French political leaders had upheld the European country's guiding principles of liberty, equality and fraternity for all.

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