A conservative Prime Minister has stared down the critics in his own party, allowed a conscience vote and is now on the cusp of introducing equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in England and Wales.
Tuesday’s vote in the House of Commons has Australian activists asking: Why not here?
Assuming the House of Lords will also vote in favour – as commentators suggest it will – then Britain will join the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal and several states of the US in allowing same-sex marriage.