Exclusive: John Howard says the government needs to explain how it will protect religious freedoms on same-sex marriage

Former prime minister John Howard has demanded that the rights of children not be forgotten in the same-sex marriage debate.

Speaking exclusively to 9NEWS from London, he also rejected Malcolm Turnbull's assurances that a detailed debate about protecting religious freedoms can wait until after the postal vote on same-sex marriage is decided.

Mr Howard said that if the postal survey returned a “yes” vote then the government would be stampeded into delivering change, so people needed answers to pressing questions about their rights now.

The prime minister has argued that the government’s exposure draft of the same-sex marriage bill includes protections for religious ministers and organisations and that “there is consensus across the Parliament to do that”.

Mr Howard is unmoved. 

“We have got to go beyond simply saying that priests and rabbis and imams and ministers can’t be compelled to conduct a same sex marriage ceremony,” he said.

“That’s hardly an enormous concession.

“I don’t expect to have every last detail of the bill but I do expect – and a lot of people expect – to know how the government proposes to address the protection of parental rights and religious freedoms and freedom of speech.”

Former advertising boss Geoff Cousins has accused Mr Howard of adopting a “dishonest strategy” of clouding the marriage debate with distractions.

The former PM says his one-time adviser’s criticism ignores the profound questions which will flow from a fundamental social change.

“The fact that people are complaining that it’s an attempt to muddy the waters indicates to me that they know damn well that they are legitimate questions,” he said.

Mr Howard believes traditional marriage is the most likely to produce the best outcomes for children, despite the failure of many marriages and the fact that many same-sex couples are loving parents.

“I do think the rights of children are fundamental to this debate, not just the rights of same-sex couples,” he said.

“It is one of those areas where you have conflicting rights and you have to bear that in mind when you are making judgements.

“I think that if we remove the special status of marriage as we have understood it that would over time weaken the institution.”

At a minimum, Mr Howard wants religious organisations to get the same protections they now enjoy under state and federal sex discrimination acts; to employ and teach according to their doctrines.

“But most importantly I do worry about parental rights,” he said.

“People worry about what their children are taught in the classroom in relation to gender theory.

“There’s been a lot of debate about the Safe Schools Program, which has concerned an enormous number of parents.

“Some state governments are all in favour of that others aren’t. Now these are issues that can’t be ignored.”