Parliament to debate same-sex marriage bill
The same-sex marriage bill introduced by federal LNP backbencher Warren Entsch will be debated briefly when Parliament meets again next month.
Mr Entsch introduced the private members bill earlier this week and a House of Representatives committee has now put it on the schedule for early September.
But there will be only two speakers when it comes before the Federation Chamber, the secondary chamber to the House of Representatives, and they will have five minutes each.
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There is no indication whether the committee will agree to allow more speakers in future or when, if at all, it will proceed to a vote.
Meanwhile, a bill dealing with the issue of a plebiscite on same-sex marriage has been introduced to the Senate.
Greens senator Janet Rice and crossbench senators Glenn Lazarus, David Leyonhjelm, Jacqui Lambie, Ricky Muir and Nick Xenophon have put forward the bill, calling for a plebiscite to be held at the next general election.
The bill also poses the question the public would be asked: “Do you support Australia allowing marriage between two people regardless of their gender?”
Debate on that bill has been adjourned.