@ Amicus

Firstly, The government wont support a referendum because they are worried that the opinion polls which suggest that the majority support gay marriage are actually correct. Secondly; because the government does not support gay marriage, they then don't want it to become an issue.

Also right-wing people don't seem to be wanting a referendum either because they know that the majority support gay marriage and they don't want to see the majority siding with "the gays".

And there is also the issue of the majority voting on rights for the minority.

I can't help but wonder if some of the people who are calling for a referendum are only doing so as a delaying tactic.

There's no need for a referendum on same-sex marriage. We don't have referendums on abortion, voluntary euthanasia, education policies or the budget - we elect a government to make laws and they should get on with it. Referendums are for changes to the constitution and none is needed to effect marriage equality. Same-sex marriage would make a lot of people happy (see www.thepotentialweddingalbum.org - lots of photos and stories of people who just want equality) and have no real impact on us straight people who can choose to either get married or not, as we like. Australia should be leading by example in treating its citizens equally, not arguing about it.

Men and women have been marrying and producing children for thousands of years in virtually all the cultures that are either here or gone.
Suddenly, along come homosexual activists like Rodney Croome to tell anybody who thinks the status quo is normal that they are “crazy”.
How inclusive to call all those who disagree with you fundamentalists.
Guess who’s really the wacky zealot Rodney?
Also, isn’t it queer that Rodney uses suspect polling wherein 62% of the population purportedly support SSM as a stick to argue for a conscience vote for politicians yet he makes no mention of a people’s referendum?
Surely the measure would cruise it in on the bare back of those numbers?
Or aren’t you confident of the validity of the polling either Rodney?
Wait a minute.
Would the pollsters who claim 62% support for SSM be the same crowd who gave us the lie that homosexuals are 10% of the population whereas even homosexual websites are now admitting that they form a mere 1%?
http://www.gcn.ie/feature.aspx?articleid=2939&sectionid=14
But who remembers the lie once it’s served its purpose and we’ve moved on, hey Rodney?
30 out of 30 US states which had citizen initiated referenda on SSM voted to keep marriage between a man and a woman.
Shock horror!
“Crazy” fundamentalists!
Imagine the bigotry in their hate-filled minds!
But wait.
Maybe that’s why Rodney’s not real keen on a referendum but would would rather use the back passage approach, as has been so effective in those states in the USA where they now have SSM.
Judicial and legislative activism is much more effective isn’t it Rodney?
Sorry to disappoint you Rodney but legalising SSM won’t make it normal or natural.

Proxy - yes, men and women have been marrying and producing children for thousands of years. No-one is objecting to that and no-one is suggesting that most men and women would not continue to do so if same-sex marriage was legalised. All that would happen if marriage equality occurs is that those who happen to have a different sexual orientation will also be considered equal under the law. (And if you think sexual orientation is somehow chosen then I wonder exactly when you considered your options and chose to be straight (wild guess that's how you identify) and what would it take for you to choose to be gay?).

Society's understanding of marriage has changed over time. At one time inter-faith and inter-racial marriage was considered taboo and people probably objected to social progress along the lines of your (non) argument. Now those types of marriages are not an issue and if same-sex marriage is legalised it will also become a non-issue (albeit, perhaps you won't change your mind).

Btw I'm straight, but I support all Australians' right to equality.

HerbieTheBeagle, sure, in fact, we shouldn't have wasted our time on a referendum on Indigenous Land rights either, as this clearly does not affect the rest of us; and we (are forced to) elect people to make our decisions for us, why should we demand more rights simply because we currently don't actually have them now?

Jason, I agree.
"Also right-wing people don't seem to be wanting a referendum either because they know that the majority support gay marriage and they don't want to see the majority siding with "the gays"."
Of course, they would not admit it because they know their entire stance is of their own bigotry alone.

King Hazza I think you're missing my point. I completely support demanding equality for same-sex oriented people, I'm just saying there shouldn't need to be a referendum to achieve it - the government should just legislate and get it done.