Same-sex marriage wins Labor support

Instead of remaining opposed to a reform he had previously voted against, the new Labor leader announced upon his appointment he had "an open mind" and would "continue to reflect" on it.

"I'm now at a point where I'm willing to give my support to a change to the law, to the [federal] Marriage Act, so as to provide for same-sex marriage," Mr Foley, a practising Catholic, told Fairfax Media this week.

Sitting Illawarra MPs and a candidate spoken to by the Mercury on Thursday were happy to share their stance ahead of the March 28 election, despite stressing marriage equality was a federal government issue.

"I personally support equality and I support same-sex marriage," Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said, adding the High Court of Australia had last year judged the Federal Parliament to be the appropriate place to legalise it.

Member for Keira and Shadow Minister for the Illawarra, Ryan Park, said he wasn't opposed to same-sex marriage, but said it was "not an issue that is a huge concern to many people in my electorate".

"As a father of two young boys, I don't want them to be able to be denied an opportunity to marry someone if they find themselves in a same-sex relationship," Mr Park said.

The answer wasn't quite as clear-cut for Labor's Heathcote candidate Maryanne Stuart, who said if elected next month she would "go to the constituents and survey them" to guide her.

"The act is a federal act, but if it ever was to be debated in NSW Parliament, that's the process I would take," she said.

Advocates have praised Mr Foley's new stance.

"His evolution on marriage equality will encourage other MPs to do the same and provides a positive example for community members still conflicted by the reform," Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said.

The Mercury contacted Wollongong MP Noreen Hay and Labor candidate for Kiama Glenn Kolomeitz for comment.