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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has stepped up Labor's attack against Malcolm Turnbull over marriage equality, lashing out at the Prime Minister for allowing a "cowardly" plebiscite because he is too beholden to the right wing of his party.
With one week before the federal election, Mr Andrews made a last-minute appearance at a marriage equality rally in Melbourne on Saturday, telling protesters that real change could only be delivered by a government that is genuinely ready to reform.
Contrasting the actions of his own administration - which has delivered on gay adoption in Victoria; supported the Safe Schools program; and initiated a state apology for past convictions of homosexuality – Mr Andrews attacked Mr Turnbull for endorsing a public vote "instead of politicians doing what they're paid to do, which is to make laws and change laws."
"That's what should occur on the floor of the federal parliament," the Premier told the crowd, highlighting Bill Shorten's pledge to legislate for same-sex marriage within his first 100 days if Labor is elected next week.
"Love is love, fair is fair, and equality is not negotiable … (Mr Turnbull's) MPs will not even be bound by this divisive and dangerous plebiscite. So the plebiscite designed to appease those right wing members of his party will not even bind those members of his party."
The premier's comments came amid reports that MPs would be given licence to vote against marriage equality in Parliament if their individual electorates end up voting 'no' when the issue is put to a community vote later this year.
Fairfax Media revealed on Saturday that there was a secret push within the Coalition party room to hobble any positive vote, but this was to be kept under wraps until after the election.
While federal Attorney-General George Brandis issued a press release rejecting the report, the news was enough to fuel thousands of Melburnians who braved the winter chill on Saturday afternoon to gather at the Victorian State Library for the last marriage equality rally before the July 2 poll.
Greens MP Adam Bandt and the party's candidate for the seat of Batman Alex Bhathal also attended the event, along with Labor's candidate for Melbourne Sophie Ismail and Australian Equality Party candidate Jason Tuazon-McCheyne, an openly gay marriage celebrant who is vying for a coveted Victorian spot in the senate.
But it was Callum Marlowe, the 10-year-old son of two lesbians who stole the show, telling Mr Turnbull that the plebiscite was a "stupid" idea and urging the PM to treat everyone equally.
"My family is normal to me," he told the crowd. "If Malcolm Turnbull believes in marriage equality, he should just make it a law if he's prime minister again."
Melbourne's rally, organised by lobby group Equal Love, was one of several same-sex marriage rallies that simultaneously took place around the country.
