Christopher Pyne and Malcolm Turnbull have taken a public but silent stand on same-sex marriage, as the only two ministers to sit on the frontbench as Warren Entsch introduced his long-awaited cross-party bill.
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As Mr Entsch introduced his bill on same-sex marriage to the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the Coalition's policy on how a national vote would work would be sorted "in the next couple of weeks".
Ahead of a cabinet meeting on Monday, which is expected to discuss having a plebiscite or referendum on same-sex marriage, Mr Entsch spoke to a near-empty government side of the chamber.
This follows the Coalition's six-hour marathon meeting last week, where it was decided government MPs would not get a free vote on the issue.
Supporting Mr Entsch was co-sponsor Teresa Gambaro and fellow Queensland Coalition MP Wyatt Roy. But the most obvious sign of support came from Mr Pyne and Mr Turnbull, who split with the Prime Minister last week on his approach to same-sex marriage.
The Labor side of the chamber was almost full with many frontbenchers, including Labor leader Bill Shorten.
When introducing his bill - which is not assured of coming to a vote - Mr Entsch said that he wanted to remove discrimination in Australian law.
"Being gay is something not to be ashamed of," he said.
The cross-party bill will not compel ministers of religion or chaplains to conduct same-sex marriages, but celebrants will be required to under the law.
"To allow discrimination on the grounds of a person's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status would treat one group of people with characteristics that are protected under discrimination legislation differently from other groups of people with characteristics that are also protected," the bill's explanatory document says.
Assistant Education Minister Simon Birmingham also came over from the Senate on Monday morning to listen to the introduction of the bill.
In a media conference shortly after Mr Entsch introduced his bill, Mr Abbott said that same-sex marriage would go to a national vote in the next term of Parliament.
As frontbenchers disagree on the need for a referendum (which changes the constitution), Mr Abbott said: "There are a few loose ends to tied up, and that will be dealt with in the next couple of weeks."
Last week, Social Services Minister Scott Morrison was shot down by Attorney-General George Brandis for his advocacy of a referendum.
On Monday, Mr Morrison told reporters his position had not changed.
When asked if he wanted a referendum of plebiscite, he replied: "My position on theses issues is well known."
It is understood that at least eight government frontbenchers spoke in favour of same-sex marriage last week, including Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
