Conservative MPs within the Turnbull government are proposing that up to 100 amendments will be required to the suggested marriage bill if the ‘Yes’ vote is successful.

The West Australian has reported that between 60 and 100 amendments will be suggested the bill put forward by Western Australian senator Dean Smith.

As a ‘Yes’ result is looking likely in the marriage postal survey, those opposed to allowing same sex couples the right to marry have now turned their attention to influencing the legislation that will allow it to happen.

Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz has declared that the bill Senator Smith developed, based on the findings of a senate inquiry into the issue, was “not acceptable as a starting point” for may eventually become law.

Senator Abetz, a leading voice of the ‘No’ campaign and longtime opponent of marriage equality, said he was not admitting defeat in survey, but if the ‘Yes’ campaign was successful, Senator Smith’s bill would not be sufficient.

“It is seriously inadequate, as parents, freedom of speech and religious freedom, along with conscientious objection, all need full protection,” Senator Abetz told The West Australian.

The issue has the potential to create division with the Liberal party with MPs opposed to marriage equality upset that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s suggestion that the issue could be legislated before Christmas.

The Labor party has agreed to give support to Senator Smith’s bill.

OIP Staff