In a major blow for campaigners, New Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made it clear she does not support legalising gay marriage.
She has told the Austereo show that Labor policy on gay marriage will remain the same under her leadership.
"We believe the marriage act is appropriate in its current form, that is recognising that marriage is between a man and a woman, but we have as a government taken steps to equalise treatment for gay couples," she said.
Ms Gillard says it's her personal view.
Australian Marriage Equality and the Australian Coalition for Equality had expressed hope that policy would change under Ms Gillard.
Alex Greenwich from Australian Marriage Equality says 85 percent of gay and lesbian Australians, 64 percent of Labor voters, and 60 percent of all Australians support marriage equality and a majority of same-sex partners would marry if they could.
