However, Senator Bob Day of Family First says, “It’s not Senator Leyonhjelm that’s pushing for this conscience vote and the debate, it’s certain elements of the Liberal party.

“Some in the Liberal Party want a conscience vote, so they want Senator Leyonhjelm to bring on the debate in the parliament so that the Liberal Party then has to discuss whether to have a conscience vote,” says Senator Day.

The debate over same-sex marriage will resume in Parliament on Thursday 26 March.

Senator Day says, “This issue is of such national importance that it should be government policy. The profound economic and social impacts of this particular question mean it is therefore appropriate for it to be a policy decision of either a party or the government.

“Family First is arguing the social and economic value of maintaining the current definition. This is not a debate about religion, not a debate about morality, not a debate about tradition. It is a debate about the social and economic structure of our nation.”

Senator Day believes that the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex relationships is not inevitable. “I think the common sense and conservative nature of people will accept the social and economic value in maintaining the current definition of marriage,” says the Senator.

Anthony Venn-Brown, founder of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International says it’s not the role of churches to say whether [gay marriage] should happen or not. “It’s a civil institution, and it is the role of government to legislate about it.

“I don’t believe that ministers should be forced to perform same-sex marriage. But we [homosexual couples] should be given the choice, as a heterosexual couple is given the choice.”

Simon Smart from the Centre for Public Christianity says, “There’s a role for the government to play here. It legislates to some degree on family issues and always has, and should.”

“That’s not to say that churches don’t have a place in that discussion”, says Smart, but that they have the right, “just like other groups in society to put forward their view and persuade others of it.”

“It is a privilege that we can freely express our opinions in Australia on such a controversial topic, but the Christian voice must be marked by gentleness and respect, or it is not genuinely Christian.”