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It's not so much about the price tag, but more that there are other issues nearer and dearer to their hearts. A strong majority of Australians want gay marriage laws passed, for example, but the two major parties can dodge the issue because other issues are more important to their voters.

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I agree, but replace hearts with wallets ;)

Contrary to environmental preservation, a gay marriage law costs nothing. So if a strong majority supports it, why don't they enact it to get a free popularity boost?

Because most ministers truly stand for what they believe in to a certain limited extent.

Unfortunately, this is what old, rich, often religious men believe, which is a terrible representation of the actual country.

This is said generally, as I have no specific experience of the situation in Australia

Current government is held hostage by its far right faction who wants to avoid an open vote on gay marriage.

The left would now allow an open vote for it but when they were last in government the tide of public opinion probably hadn't turned far enough yet.

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