Throsby MP Stephen Jones says there is enough momentum for marriage equality to pass through Federal Parliament, as long as the Prime Minister allows his MPs a conscience vote on the issue.
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Speaking on Tuesday night, just after Labor leader Bill Shorten tweeted that he would present a bill to allow same-sex marriage on Monday, the Illawarra politician said many high-profile politicians - including Labor's Tony Burke and Chris Bowen - had changed their minds since his own marriage equality bill was defeated 98-42 in 2012.
"The significant change is that the alternative leader of government is now moving the bill in Parliament," Mr Jones said. "It has the support, we believe, of the majority of MPs and senators, if they are given a free vote on it.
"I think the momentum is all one way and it's untenable for Tony Abbott to say he won't let his individual MPs vote on this in accordance with their own views.
"With Ireland adding itself to the list of countries who have changed their laws on this, it would be hard for Australia not to.
"So I think there's a very good chance that this will succeed and that's a good thing."
Like Mr Jones, other MPs have predicted legislation will pass by the end of the year.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said his reading of the numbers showed there was now a favourable majority in both houses of Parliament.
"It is now time for Australia to join the nations that recognise people should be able to marry the person that they love," Mr Albanese told Parliament.
"I strongly believe there should be a vote this year and it should be a conscience vote."
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously declined his MPs a free vote, leading to the defeat of Mr Jones' bill in 2012.
However, the landslide success of a same-sex referendum in a conservative Catholic country like Ireland has led to further calls to act in Australia.
Cabinet minister Malcolm Turnbull also expected Parliament to legalise same-sex marriage before the end of the year.
"I have never seen a social issue which has changed attitudes as rapidly as this one," he said, adding his feeling was that legislation was "very likely to pass".
Recent polls have put public support for gay marriage as high as 72 per cent.
Mr Shorten's move followed an announcement by the Greens on Tuesday that their Marriage Equality Bill would be debated in the Senate in June, with a view to bringing on a vote in November.
