Entsch off to New York, then back for gay marriage bill

WARREN Entsch will cut short his secondment to the United Nations in New York to bring a private member's bill to parliament calling for same-sex marriage, regardless of the postal vote's outcome.

The Leichhardt MP leaves for the US tomorrow for a three-month posting.

But he said he would return before the end of the final sitting week in November to bring forward a Bill that would legalise gay marriage but allow ministers to refuse to marry a couple if it was in conflict with their religion.

Mr Entsch said he would bring the legislation even if the postal survey, which he has called a "Mickey Mouse opinion poll", came out in favour of the "No" vote.

"After the opinion poll comes back, I'm putting up the marriage Bill," he said.

More on this at Cairns Post