Tony Abbott's gay sister Christine Forster urges Australian PM to allow his MPs a conscience vote on same-sex marriage

Abbott is a long-standing opponent of gay marriage

Prime Minister Tony Abbott Announces Changes In National Security Speech ( Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

When Tony Abbott rejected calls for a referendum on same-sex marriage in the wake of Ireland’s historic vote to approve the measure, many were left unimpressed.

Including, it seems, the Australian prime minister’s own gay sister, Christine Forster.

Forster shared her hope that her brother wpuld change his mind and allow MPs a conscience vote on the referendum with Sky News.

“I'd like something more from the current prime minister, who happens to be my brother,” she said.

The Prime Minister’s sister, Christine Forster, is gay and wants to get married (Rex Features)

Abbott had implied that referendums in Australia were reserved only for constitutional changes.

“I don't think anyone is suggesting the constitution needs to be changed in this respect,” the long-standing opponent of gay marriage said.

Bill Shorten, the opposition leader who supports gay marriage, also ruled out a referendum but called for parliament to legislate on the matter, calling the prime minister an obstacle to equality.

“If the Irish people can vote in favour of marriage equality, the question has to be asked, what is Tony Abbott's problem with it?” he told ABC News.