(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Bill Shorten's gay marriage bill looks doomed to failure after a joint Coalition party room meeting failed to address the issue of whether to allow a conscience vote.
Mr Shorten introduced his same-sex marriage bill to parliament this week.
But Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated, to be successful, such a bill would need the support of the whole of parliament.
For that to happen, Coalition MPs need to be granted a conscience vote, and as Amanda Cavill reports, the party room remains divided on that issue.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
The Liberal Party has long disagreed with allowing a conscience vote on legalising same-sex marriage.
But it now appears the Prime Minister is prepared to allow its parliamentary members to decide if one should be allowed in the future.
And while the Liberal party room is yet to discuss allowing all its MPs a free vote, Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg believes the numbers are there to allow it.
"Well, I think there are. I think it's important, though, that we respect the views of both sides of this debate, because people bring their own views, their own experiences, often with a religious background to them. I, like many other local Members in the Parliament, have met with a number of constituents, and my views have evolved after meeting with constituents and seeing the deep affection that people of same-sex relationships have for each other."
But Mr Frydenberg's public support for a free vote has upset some of his colleagues, who accuse him of breaking ministerial solidarity.
Senator Zed Seselja says supporters he has spoken with are concerned MPs are breaking out against the Liberal policy of traditional marriage.
"We've had a long standing party position on this, and that party position shouldn't change, and I don't believe it will change. I think it's also important that, where we do have a long standing party position, ministers support that party position publicly. I don't think we should have a situation where ministers go against party policy, because, if they can do it on same-sex marriage, they can publicly do it on any number of other issues. So I think that that is a very, very important point as we debate this."
Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm says same-sex marriage will only become legal in Australia if the main political players in parliament agree to present a single bill.
Senator Leyonhjelm says he is far from impressed by what he calls opposition leader Bill Shorten's decision to try to score political points around the issue with his own bill.
The senator says he has talked with Liberal backbencher Warren Entsch about presenting legislation backed by the Coalition, Labor, the Greens and other crossbenchers.
He says MPs may not even debate Mr Shorten's bill, let alone go to a vote on it, because most supporters of same-sex marriage favour a cross-party approach.
"Obviously, I'd like it to be my bill, the Greens would like it to be their bill, and Bill Shorten would like his to come through. I don't think that anything like that's going to happen. The Liberals are not going to allow anyone to claim the credit for it. It's going to have to be some sort of composite bill that reflects everybody's views -- not that the views vary very much."
Meanwhile, the Opposition has attacked the Government's handling of plans to strip citizenship from dual nationals suspected of being involved in terrorism.
Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles says it has been a complete shambles.
Six cabinet ministers reportedly questioned the proposal.
But 40 backbenchers have now signed a letter calling for the toughest possible measures against Australian supporters of what they call terrorist groups.
Mr Marles has told the ABC he is concerned the proposal could extend to sole nationals and says there has not been an adequate explanation of how it would work.
"And we also need to know, 'Who's actually running this?' We have a petition from 40 backbenchers. It seems to be now opposed by Cory Bernardi. The Minister seems unable to explain himself, let alone actually being able to explain the legislation that we may or may not see being put into the parliament."
The Government says the laws will be introduced later this month.
As proposed, they would take citizenship from dual nationals if the immigration minister is advised they support terrorist groups or are engaged in terrorism.
The Government is yet to confirm if it will proceed with extending the move to some people who have only Australian citizenship.
