Malcolm Turnbull elected as the New Australian Prime Minister. (Agence France-Presse)
SYDNEY:
New Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday the status of same sex marriage will be decided by a public vote after a federal election next year, sticking to a timeline determined by former leader Tony Abbott.
Some campaigners had hoped that Turnbull, who has spoken out against the party line in support of gay marriage, would override the earlier decision and call for a free vote in parliament to speed up the process.
"The coalition, our government, has decided that the resolution of this matter will be determined by a vote of the people, all the people, via a plebiscite, to be held after the next election," Turnbull told lawmakers in Canberra.
"If we are re-elected to government, every single Australian will have a say."
Some campaigners had hoped that Turnbull, who has spoken out against the party line in support of gay marriage, would override the earlier decision and call for a free vote in parliament to speed up the process.
"The coalition, our government, has decided that the resolution of this matter will be determined by a vote of the people, all the people, via a plebiscite, to be held after the next election," Turnbull told lawmakers in Canberra.
"If we are re-elected to government, every single Australian will have a say."
© Thomson Reuters 2015
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