'Marriage is not compulsory either way'

Yes it is Kipp. A couple living together for a period of 2 years are effectively married in law by the government.

There exists no avenue to legally live together and not be 'protected' by the government's de-facto laws.

Houellebecq, it is like you wanting to be the "Mother" of your children, it aint the same as the real thing!

If Tony Abbott is elected PM as expected this election, and if he continues as expected to oppose gay marriage or a referendum on the issue, then the pressure to legalise gay marriage is going to keep rising and rising so much so that it will be in the favor of gay marriage supporters. As everyday passes more and more Australians are more solid in there support for gay marriage, and this will continue if Tony Abbott keeps pretending that gay marriage is not an issue by opposing gay marriage or a referendum. Every year more and more countries and states in the USA are legalizing gay marriage, and more and more prominent and influential people are speaking out in support of gay marriage. As long as Tony Abbott is leader of the Liberals there will be no gay marriage or referendums on the issue. And as a result the push for gay marriage will get bigger and bigger and work in gay marriage advocates favour.

@ Jayb

An Australian referendum would give anti-gay stalwarts such as Fred Nile the biggest megaphone they have ever had. This is why anti-equality groups are usually the ones calling for a referendum. Another big problem is confusion about what's being proposed.
If it's a non-binding plebiscite on the Marriage Act then what's the point? Politicians can just ignore it. If it's a fully-fledged referendum on the marriage provision in the constitution, the same question arises. Why bother when the outcome would simply be a clarification of what the constitution means by the term ''marriage'', and a change to the Marriage Act would still have to be voted on in parliament anyway?
The other danger with a fully-fledged referendum is that it would only pass with majority support in a majority of states, effectively putting the threshold for success way above 50 per cent. Overseas referenda on marriage equality have been exploited by cashed-up, anti-gay groups to conduct fear and hate campaigns against gay people.

Below is a quote from British Prime Minister David Cameron:

“So I don’t support gay marriage in spite of being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I am a Conservative.”

Think about it.

Jason84: An Australian referendum would give anti-gay stalwarts such as Fred Nile the biggest megaphone they have ever had. This is why anti-equality groups are usually the ones calling for a referendum.

The Gays have had the floor on this matter for years. They have been shouting out loud & demonstrating everywhere. Are you denying the anti-gay people a say. There are always 2 sides in a debate & it's fair that both sides can air their opinion.

Jason84: Another big problem is confusion about what's being proposed.

I have already covered this.

The call for a referendum or Plebiscite, whatever, is set to be hijacked. The question of; Should gay marriage be legalized or do you believe in marriage equality. The Marriage Equality question is fraught with ambiguity. Does it mean, if you tick "yes", then you are in favour of Gay Marriage, or, if you tick "No" then you don't believe Men & Women are equal. It's an old Lawyers trick designed to confuse the issue.