Australian Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull on Friday pledged that his government would respect the
outcome of a public vote on whether to broaden the nation's marriage
laws to include gay and lesbian couples.
Turnbull said that his government would
“absolutely” respect the outcome of a proposed plebiscite on the
marriage equality question.
“If the majority of people voting in
the plebiscite vote in favor of it, then same-sex marriage will be
legalized,” Turnbull, who supports marriage equality, told
Melbourne Radio 3AW.
However, several conservative lawmakers
opposed to the reforms have recently said that such an outcome would
not sway their votes.
Unlike referendums, federal plebiscites
hold no legal weight. Polling on the issue shows a large majority of
Australians support marriage equality.