Coalition MPs have decided not to allow themselves a free vote on same-sex marriage, after a marathon meeting at Parliament House.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fairfax Media understands Coalition MPs spoke against allowing a free vote on the issue at a rate of about 2:1, effectively scuttling plans to legislate same-sex marriage in this Parliament.
One MP - who backs the existing marriage definition - described it as a "very comprehensive" victory.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott called a special joint Liberal-National parties meeting on Tuesday afternoon so government MPs could discuss whether they should have a free vote.
However the decision to include National MPs - who are more conservative as a group - in the discussion, has concerned some supporters of same-sex marriage who believe it will sway the Coalition against a free vote.
A senior Liberal source predicted there would be backlash against the Prime Minister's leadership because of the joint party room move.
The meeting, which began at 3.15pm in Canberra, followed what Mr Abbott described as a "brief but spirited" discussion on Tuesday morning, when he was challenged to allow a debate on the issue.
The afternoon meeting broke for 30 minutes at 5pm so that senators could listen to new Queensland senator Jo Lindgren give her first speech.
Mr Abbott chaired the meeting, with government whip Scott Buchholz manning the bell. It is understood most speakers took between two and four minutes.
Joint party move could be seen as 'branch stacking'
Queensland MP Warren Entsch first raised the issue in a Liberal Party-only meeting on Tuesday morning, having given official notice to the Parliament that he would be presenting his cross-party bill on same-sex marriage.
It is understood that Mr Abbott restated that the Coalition has a long-standing policy against a free vote and said that the issue should be discussed by both the Liberal and National parties in a joint meeting.
It is also understood the Leader of the House Christopher Pyne disagreed - arguing that only Liberal MPs should be involved in the decision and the move would be seen as "branch stacking" to sway the outcome.
In the regular Liberal-National joint meeting that followed soon after the Liberal meeting, Mr Abbott deferred debate on a free vote, noting that the agenda was already very full with the government's new emission reduction target being discussed.
A surprise party room meeting was then announced by Mr Buchholz on behalf of Mr Abbott.
The Prime Minister has explained he called the special meeting because some MPs want to deal with the matter as "swiftly as possible". He has also clarified that his pre-election comments - when he said the matter of same-sex marriage would be one for the post-election party room - related to the Coalition (that is, Liberal and National) party room.
In September 2013, shortly before the federal election, Mr Abbott specifically referred to the Coalition party room dealing with same-sex marriage in the new Parliament.
"Everyone knows where I stand on this," Mr Abbott said at the time.
"There are some of my colleagues who have a different position on this. It will all go to the Coalition party room and we will deal with it in the usual way."
In a statement, Mr Entsch confirmed that the "issue of a free vote" was raised in the Liberal Party room.
"It was determined that more time was needed for discussion and this has been deferred to a special joint party room meeting later today," Mr Entsch said.
"The contest of the [cross party] bill will not be discussed until it is tabled in Parliament.
"Which is the appropriate place for debate."
On Twitter, Mr Abbott's sister, Sydney City Councillor Christine Forster said she welcomed the party room debate, but said it should go to the Liberal Party room first.
Labor MPs have a free vote until 2019, when they will move to a binding vote in favour of same-sex marriage. Before the 2013 election, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that the matter of a free vote would be a matter for the post-election party room.
