Same-sex marriage advocates are rejoicing that Senator David Leyonhjelm introduced his same-sex marriage bill to Parliament on Wednesday.
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But there is one person who is most definitely not, according to the Liberal Democrat.
Senator Leyonhjelm told reporters in Canberra that Prime Minister Tony Abbott was "not enthusiastic" about the same-sex marriage bill.
"His argument was the government's got plenty of troubles without this one coming along," Senator Leyonhjelm said.
"He would prefer I didn't [introduce the bill]."
Senator Leyonhjelm had a recent dinner meeting with Mr Abbott, where the Prime Minister again "made plain" his opposition to same-sex marriage.
After the dinner, the LDP Senator decided to go ahead with his plans to legalise marriage for same-sex couples as well as transgender, bisexual and intersex Australians.
"The time is right for this bill," he said on Wednesday.
"I support marriage equality because I believe people should have the freedom to choose their own life path."
On Wednesday, Senator Leyonhjelm called on the Prime Minister to agree to allow a conscience vote on the issue.
Mr Abbott has previously said the matter of a free vote would be one for the post-2013 election party room after an attempt to introduce same-sex marriage was voted down in 2012 when Coalition MPs and some Labor MPs voted against it.
"All I am asking for is tolerance," Senator Leyonhjelm said.
"I will not be asking anyone to join a float in the gay mardi gras. Or to become the seventh member of the Village People."
Senator Leyonhjelm's bill proposes to change the wording of the Marriage Act to define marriage as "the union of two people" rather than a "man and a woman". But it will not make it compulsory for celebrants to marry same-sex couples, except in the case of government employed celebrants.
Senator Leyonhjelm explained that he had resisted the urge - as a libertarian - to ban the government from authorising marriages entirely, as he understood the bill needed to appeal to mainstream Australia.
The NSW Senator is not officially married to his wife of 30 years.
Senator Leyonhjelm said that after introducing his bill, he would delay a vote until he was confident it would succeed.
He said he was confident that the Liberal Party would agree to a free vote on the issue, but cautioned it was not a "foregone conclusion".
Australian Marriage Equality's deputy director Ivan Hinton-Teoh, who addressed reporters with his husband Chris, said the bill could be an historic moment.
"The gravity of this moment is enormous. Not just for us but for countless thousands of Australians who desperately want to have their relationships recognised by our federal government. Who desperately want to have the opportunity of celebrating their relationships amongst their family and friends."
On Wednesday afternoon, Senator Leyonhjelm's bill was introduced after being delayed due to a censure motion against Defence Minister David Johnston over his comments about the Australian Submarine Corporation.
Mr Abbott's office has been contacted for comment.
