Marriage equality plebiscite bill voted down in Australian Senate

The Australian government's proposal to hold a national vote on legalising same-sex marriage has been defeated in the Upper House of parliament, with no last-minute deal emerging to save the non-binding poll.

On Monday, the proposal for the plebiscite which would have been held in February, was voted down in the Upper House 33 to 29, effectively ending more than a year of debate about the plebiscite.

The Federal Government claimed that the plebiscite, which was first proposed by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and passed onto his successor, Malcolm Turnbull, would be supported by the public, which for the most part supports same-sex marriage, according to opinion polls cited by the BBC.

However, the Opposition, as well as LGBTI groups, argued that the planned plebiscite would only subject the gay and lesbian community to abuse and condemnation.

Attorney General George Brandis warned that opposing the plebiscite would mean delaying same-sex marriage in Australia for several years, but that didn’t stop the Labour, Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Victoria Senator Derryn Hinch to oppose it. The Coalition, on the other hand, was able to secure the support of David Leyonhjelm and independent Jacqui Lambie. Liberal Senator Dean Smith abstained.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is personally in favour of same-sex marriage but is reluctant to allow his own MPs a free vote on the issue, the BBC reported.

The government reportedly said that a non-binding ballot, or plebiscite, was the quickest way to amend the Marriage Act.

Currently, same-sex couples can have civil unions or registered relationships in most Australian states but they are not considered married under national law.

The proposal's defeat in the senate means the issue will be taken off the agenda at least until the next term of parliament.