BALLARAT MP Catherine King has gone silent on same-sex marriage, again refusing to tell constituents where she stands on the issue. Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week said federal Labor MPs and senators should be free to vote on same-sex marriage in parliament according to their own beliefs.Ms Gillard wants the party to grant MPs a conscience vote on the issue at next month’s ALP national conference in Sydney. Ms King will observe the debate and its outcome before considering her position when a vote comes before the House of Representatives, a spokesperson said.She has previously opposed a change to the Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to marry, but in August said her views had been “fundamentally challenged” by community consultation on the issue. Daylesford resident Mel Thomas said Ms King’s position was “ridiculous”. “I married my female partner two years ago and I think the current political debate is absolutely hysterical. “It is very sad that our politicians who are meant to be running the country are not considering every human being and won’t even talk about where they stand,” she said. Ms Thomas said elected representatives had a responsibility to discuss their views with constituents. Monash University political scientist Dr Nick Economou said an opinion poll last week showed 62 per cent of voters now support legalising same-sex marriage, up from 57 per cent a year ago.“For someone like Catherine King this problem is a political one, but not in the electorate as most Australians approve the idea but I think many feel this is not the most important issue to confront. “It is a problem for the internal operation of the ALP, and is an issue which has the potential to dovetail to factional divisions within the party,” Dr Economou said. Spokesperson for Equal Love Victoria Ali Hogg said it was a “massive cop out” for Ms King to refuse to discuss her position on the matter.