Clouds parting in gay marriage debate: Wong

Clouds parting in gay marriage debate: Wong

Federal politicians hope the 'clouds of partisanship have parted' in the same- sex marriage debate after the release of a consensus committee inquiry report.

A parliamentary inquiry examined a draft bill to legalise gay marriage that the government would introduce to parliament following voter approval.

However the plebiscite is unlikely to go ahead because of lack of support.

The committee nonetheless released its report to parliament on Wednesday.

It proposed setting up a new category of independent religious celebrants to perform wedding ceremonies within their faith.

The committee recommended civil celebrants should uphold the law if marriage equality is legalised, but was in favour of the right of ministers to refuse to solemnise marriages on religious grounds.

However the committee said evidence supported the need for current protections for religious freedom to be enhanced.

Labor senate leader Penny Wong, who is in a same-sex relationship, described the report as a significant and important moment in the gay marriage debate, insisting the 'clouds of partisanship had parted'.

'We must now, together, take the next steps, to work together, to compromise, to end this debate and to achieve what is the will of the overwhelming majority of the Australian people,' she told parliament.

Gay Liberal senator Dean Smith said it made sense to extend the institution of marriage to others.

Canada, the UK and New Zealand had already legalised gay marriage.

'There is nothing to fear from changing the definition of marriage to one that gives every Australian the opportunity to share in this tried and tested institution,' he said.

Gay Labor senator Louise Pratt said the report showed it would not be difficult to create laws that upheld religious freedom and freedom to marry.

'I would like ... the right to be married but please don't ask me about my plans to get married because I can't yet make them,' she told parliament.

But Liberal senator David Fawcett, who chaired the committee, disagreed saying it a complex legal task.

'If Australia is to remain a plural and tolerant society, where different views are valued and legal, legislators must arecognise that this change will require careful, simultaneous consideration of a wide range of specialist areas of law, as opposed to the common perception that it involves changing just a few words in one act in parliament,' he said.

Greens senator Janet Rice said the unprecedented show of collaboration, negotiation and consensus had paved the way forward to achieve marriage equality in this parliament.