BOWMAN MP Andrew laming has welcomed Ireland's decision on the weekend to legalise same-sex marriage.
Ireland became the first country in the world to adopt gay marriage by popular vote after a referendum on Saturday.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has ruled out a similar referendum in Australia.
But on Sunday, Mr Laming said he looked forward to a conscience vote in Australia.
Mr Abbott acknowledged the issue was important to millions of Australians, but said the issue had been "dealt with fairly decisively" in the last Parliament, when a private members bill was defeated.
In September 2012, 98 MPs voted against a private members' bill put forward by Labor backbencher Stephen Jones.
Liberal Democratic Party Senator David Leyonhjelm introduced a bill for same-sex marriage in the Upper House last September, but the Liberal party room has not formally considered it.
Mr Abbott said he did not know when the issue would come before the Parliament again.
Mr Abbott is personally opposed to same-sex marriage, even though his sister is a lesbian, and the party's current position it to oppose change to marriage laws.
However Mr Abbott has left open the possibility of Liberal MPs getting a free vote on the issue in the future.
