Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm has issued an ultimatum to the Abbott government ‘support a conscience vote on same sex marriage or risk the blocking of key legislation in the Senate’

Senator Leyonhjelm has introduced a private senator’s bill to amend the marriage act to allow for same sex marriage because he believes it is vital for three reasons ‘liberty, conscience and state power.’

The bill would allow any Australian to marry regardless of "sex, sexual orientation and gender identity".

However, it also gives non-government religious and civil celebrants the right to refuse to marry same-sex couples.

The libertarian told 6PR he doesn’t believe government should interfere in individual choices and freedoms, and also supports the medical use of marijuana and assisted suicide.

Banning same-sex marriage diminishes people’s ability to make life plans and marriage equality keeps state power in check, he says.

He claims Prime Minister Tony Abbott counselled him against introducing the bill because it would cause more trouble for the government.