Members of the NSW Upper House are scheduled to debate a motion by Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann tomorrow that calls on the Federal Government to legalise same-sex marriage. Members of the Liberal, National and Labor parties have been granted a conscience vote on the issue.

Mr MacDonald told The Express he originally believed civil unions would provide sufficient recognition of same-sex relationships, but changed his stance after speaking to parents of gay children.

“I did get a representation from parents of gay children and I found that quite compelling,” he said. “There were stories of bullying and alienation, and I do tend to think, in our society, we need to embrace everybody and we’ll be a better society if we don’t alienate people.”

Mr MacDonald said he was interested in hearing the perspective of locals on the issue and encouraged feedback.

“I think it’s good that the Armidale community has someone in the Upper House that will have some say in this, and I think it’s incumbent on me to try and get some sort of reflection of what this community feels about it,” he said. “My only plea would be if people vote or engage in the debate, that they do so in a constructive, positive way.”

At least half of the 19 Coalition MLCs will need to support the motion in order for it to be passed by the Legislative Council. It is expected that some ALP MLCs will support the motion, along with all five Greens MLCs. The Christian Democrats and Shooters and Fishers Party are likely to oppose it.

Liberal president of the Legislative Council, Don Harwin has previously endorsed proposed changes to the Marriage Act allowing same-sex couples to marry. The motion will have no effect on the Marriage Act if passed. However, Mr MacDonald said it could pressure the Commonwealth into seriously considering the issue.

“If they see the NSW Parliament, particularly the Legislative Council pass that motion and they see a cross-section of people from all parties support it, I think it’s a little more pressure,” he said.

“It’s a fair cop to say it’s a symbolic motion and a symbolic vote, but these things have a way of building momentum.”

While federal Labor MPs will be granted a conscience vote when two Bills proposing amendments to the Marriage Act are brought before Parliament later this year, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has indicated the Coalition will vote as a bloc against them.

But Mr MacDonald said he believed his party’s federal position was a “work in progress”.

“I’ve heard Tony Abbott say some things about it and Joe Hockey was on Q&A last week about it, so I get the feeling that they’re working their way through it,” he said.

The state and federal members representing Armidale, Richard Torbay and Tony Windsor, have both indicated they would be unlikely to support any moves to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia.

Mr Torbay has previously said that the majority of our electorate support civil unions, but 80 per cent oppose gay marriage.