Aussie gov't snubs opposition leader's marriage equality bill

The Australian government has snubbed Australia's opposition leader Bill Shorten's bill on same- sex marriage by not attending its first reading.

Shorten's same-sex marriage bill came before the House of Representatives on Monday, and proposed replacing the words that restricts marriage to only a "man and woman" with the term "two people."

Currently, two private senator's bills are circulating the upper house and private campaigns aimed at conservative MPs are ongoing. This has made many of Shorten's opponents critical of his decision to push ahead with a bill of his own.

Shorten rebutted those claims by saying if the conservative prime minister, Tony Abbott, were to allow his Liberal/National Coalition a free vote on the issue, as Shorten's Labor Party is allowed, same sex marriage could pass.

"Given a free vote, I believe this Parliament is ready," Shorten told the House of Representatives on Monday. "We are ready to be as kind and generous spirited at the Australians who trust us."

"It is time."

More than 70 percent of Australians support changing the Marriage Act to incorporate same-sex couples, a factor Shorten reminded his fellow parliamentarians.

"Today, this Parliament can change a law that no longer represents modern Australia..and pass a law of which we can be collectively proud," he said.

Liberal MP and same-sex marriage champion Warren Entsch said on Monday that Shorten knew his bill would not pass.

Entsch said he received a call from the opposition leader on Sunday, prompting a discussion on the political path towards same- sex marriage, the possibility of a future cross-party bill and an admission by Shorten that his private member's bill will fail.

Entsch told News Corp on Monday that the issue could not be owned by any party, nor Bill Shorten, and accused Shorten's bill of being "all about politics." Endi