Abbott talks down same-sex vote

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says same-sex marriage is an important issue but it would be unusual for a private member's bill to go to a vote in parliament.

Liberal MP Warren Entsch plans to bring to parliament in August a bill, co-sponsored by Labor and other MPs, to allow gay marriage.

"I certainly accept it's an important issue on which decent people can differ ... (but) it's quite unusual for private member's bills to come on for debate and vote in the parliament," Mr Abbott told reporters on the NSW central coast on Thursday.