Marriage equality advocates have vowed the battle will now turn towards the states after the defeat of two separate marriage equality bills in both houses of Federal Parliament.

A marriage equality bill introduced into Federal Parliament has been overwhelmingly defeated in the lower house today after almost half of all Labor MPs sided with leader Julia Gillard and the Coalition to oppose the reform.

Marriage equality advocates have criticised Labor's right faction for bringing the parliamentary debate on gay marriage forward.

Federal Labor MP Stephen Jones has been accused by an opposition member of wasting time on the issue of gay marriage.

Two private member's bills to legalise same-sex marriage have been introduced into federal parliament today.

Lobbying carries its risks. In a meeting about marriage equality in parliament last week I was challenged to an arm wrestle by a well-known Coalition Senator who says he has defeated Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott despite being almost seventy.

Labor backbencher Stephen Jones has announced he expects his Private Member's Bill on marriage equality to be tabled on Monday (February 13).

Marriage equality advocates were joined by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young just before midday in Canberra today to push for a new Senate inquiry on the issue, which they believe would help tackle lingering concerns held by some MPS as well as members of the wider community.

Iconic rock singer Angry Anderson has become the latest person to give their unlikely support for marriage equality with the prospective Nationals candidate for the next federal election saying that he fails to understand why marriage continues to be denied to the gay and lesbian community.

Labor MP Stephen Jones has stated he will go into discussion with marriage equality advocates to guarantee the success of his bill to amend the federal marriage act.

Marriage equality advocates are pleading with the ALP not to introduce same-sex marriage legislation prematurely, before they have had time to further lobby MPs.

Marriage equality advocates are still hopeful that a conscience vote on the issue will be granted to Coalition MPs next year, despite Opposition Leader Tony Abbott yesterday declaring his strongest stance yet against the option following growing pressure over the past few weeks.

A private member’s bill calling for marriage equality will be introduced in Federal Parliament in coming months, with Labor MP for Throsby, Stephen Jones, signalling that he will do so when parliament resumes next February following the ALP’s historic policy shift earlier today to support same-sex marriage rights.