Labor MPs See Marriage Conspiracy

A group of Labor MPs in Australia claims that the Greens deliberately did not inform them that a new bill could advance marriage equality in the territories.

The ABC reports on the private members bill introduced by the Greens, which Labor members supported in a caucus meeting on Tuesday. The bill would give the federal parliament rather than a federal minister the power to override territory laws.

"But since the vote, a group of MPs have told the ABC the implications of the bill were not properly explained, and they suspect it was a deliberate 'stitch up' by the Labor left and Greens MPs who support gay marriage," reports the ABC.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard (pictured), whose Labor Party is scheduled to debate marriage equality at its national conference later this year, dismissed concerns about unrest in her party and said Labor supported similar legislation in 2006.

Critics say the bill illustrates that the Greens have too much influence on Labor, the ABC reports.