Conservative Liberal MPs have lashed out at a plan to bring forward a bill to legalise same-sex marriage as soon as a plebiscite is passed.
Former minister Eric Abetz, who was last month pushed aside in a cabinet re-shuffle by new prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, this morning lashed out a plan to immediately lock in the results of a marriage equality plebiscite.
Speaking on the ABC this morning, Abetz described the plan by moderate MP and marriage equality supporter Warren Entsch as "a thought bubble and an ambush."
"It is not the actions, if I might say, that will help unity, which will help to heal some of the wounds of that which has happened over recent weeks," senator Abetz said.
He said the coalition party room had a policy to oppose marriage equality until a plebiscite is held, after which the Liberal party will have a free vote on the issue.
"I have every confidence that the prime minister will abide by the wish of the party room... And the reason most of my colleagues support that view is that we do believe that all things being equal, the ideal situation is for the biological parents to provide the security for their children and also the diversity of a male and female role model in the socialisation."
Hey @SenatorAbetz if you feel "ambushed" by the Marriage Equality debate you need to invest in better scouts. Or binoculars. Or glasses.
Entsch plans to introduce legislation before the next election which would amend the Marriage Act to legalise same-sex marriage, but the legislation would only take effect if a 'yes' vote is successful in a plebiscite to be held after the election.
"It is not a vote for same sex marriage as such. It is a vote that we say this is the question that will be asked, it's a yes or no," Entsch told the ABC.
"If they vote yes, there is no further process, there is no further debate in the Parliament. This [marriage equality] then is automatically brought in."
But the plan has been called "complicated" by the Labor opposition, with same-sex marriage supporter Terri Butler pointing out that there are already several marriage equality bills.
"We can bring it to a head right now. All that needs to happen is that Malcolm Turnbull needs to actually exercise some authority and some influence in his party room," she said.
On Wednesday, minister for multicultural affairs Concetta Fierravanti-Wells also publicly opposed any plans to legislate marriage equality.
"Same-sex marriage is not a priority but if it is made a priority, it would raise strong opposition to the faith of many Australians, including, especially our migrant communities who consider marriage a bedrock institution," she said.
"Hence, I argued strongly that a Coalition policy that directly supports same-sex marriage could place under threat some of our most marginal seats which have disproportionately high religious and migrant communities."
Abetz also hit out at the way the media reports on conservative issues, saying the conservative Christians are subject to treatment that would never be handed out to people on the left.
"If you say 'religious right', why don't you say 'irreligious left' or 'godless left'?," Abetz asked.
The comments came after Abetz earlier this week lashed out at the media, saying former prime minister Tony Abbott had been unfairly treated for his conservative views.
"Journalists will need to explain why they do this, but it is very clear that if somebody swears their oath on the Koran, this is a wonderful expression of diversity and to be encouraged, whereas if you swear your oath on the Bible then you're an old fart and not to be taken seriously. Well, excuse me, what's the difference?" he said. "There is a special negative-sentiment override for those that profess the Christian faith."