That's right, but a new law will be passed before Christmas legalising gay marriage. The Prime Minister has said parliament will sit until a law is passed.

Before the postal vote the gay lobby was at pain to tell anyone who would listen that religious organisations and affiliated schools would be able to continue teaching that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

But yesterday, a high profile lesbian - the former head of the Australian Medical Association - said in a panel discussion that such teachings would be considered discrimination and, as such, would be against the law.

A disgraceful about-face.