The Prime Minister has ruled out putting the issue of marriage equality to a referendum, saying it's a matter for the federal parliament.
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Visiting Brisbane on Sunday, Tony Abbott was asked whether it was time to let the public have their say on same-sex marriage, following the success of the yes vote in Ireland.
Mr Abbott said he took issue seriously, saying there were "good people" on either side.
"There are a range of views inside the parliament, there are a range of views inside my party room, frankly their are a range of views inside my family," he told reporters.
"Inside the Abbott family I'm probably the last holdout for the traditional position."
Mr Abbott's sister Christine Forster is a lesbian who has been with her partner Virginia Edwards since 2003.
The Prime Minister said a referendum was only held in Australia when there was a proposal to change the constitution.
"I don't think anyone's suggesting the constitution needs to be changed in this respect," he said.
"Under the constitution, questions of marriage are the reserve of the commonwealth parliament... plainly this is a matter that could come before the commonwealth parliament if members of parliament wanted it to be raised."
Mr Abbott said same sex marriage was "dealt with" when it came before the parliament under the Gillard government.
Libertarian senator David Leyonhelm has been pushing for the the Liberal party to allow a free vote on the issue, having introduced his own "Freedom to Marry" bill earlier this year.
Mr Abbott said there was scope for a free vote should the matter be raised again.
However, during his visit to Clayfield coffee shop Dolci Sapori, he said his focus in the next two weeks of parliament would be pushing through budget bills and promoting the benefits for small business, including the $20,000 immediate tax deduction.
Curiously, he did not use the phrase same sex marriage or marriage equality during his media conference, referring only to it as "this issue".
"Not for a second do I want to underestimate the feelings people have on this issue, both for and against," he said.
"But my priority as Prime Minister and the government's priority in the coming fortnight is to give the small businesses of Australia the confidence boost they deserve."
