A bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia has been introduced in the Australian Parliament.

The controversial private members bill comes during a heated debated from both sides, about whether to change the law or put it to a public vote.

If passed, the bill will allow couples to marry, regardless of “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status”. Currently in Australia, marriage is only permitted between a man and a woman.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a fierce opponent of marriage equality, has denied government MPs a free vote on any bill legalising same-sex marriage. This measure means that is very unlikely that the bill will be passed.

The bill was introduced by government backbencher Warren Entsch, one of several government backbenchers who plan to defy Prime Minister Abbott by crossing the floor of the parliament to vote in favour of marriage equality.

When introducing the bill, he delivered a passionate speech about the need for this bill to pass.

He said, “It is to give same-sex couples in Australia the same right to marry the person they love as that which is currently only granted by law to heterosexual couples.

“This bill is designed to promote an inclusive Australia, not a divided one. A divided nation is what we will be if we continue to allow discrimination in relation to marriage on the basis of a person’s sexuality.”

Despite the opposition within the government, opinion polls show that approximately 70 percent of Australians support gay marriage.