AKIPRESS.COM - Same-sex marriage has become a front-page issue in the final days of Australia's election campaign, BBC reports.

The ruling conservative Liberal Party has promised to hold a plebiscite on the issue if it returns to power at this weekend's election.

But questions remain over whether the party would abide by a result in favour of same-sex marriage.

Meanwhile a video has emerged of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten praising the idea of a plebiscite.

Mr Shorten last week slammed the government's plan as a "platform for homophobia" and advocated a parliamentary vote to decide the issue.

But he told a Christian lobby forum in 2013 that he would rather let the public vote on same-sex marriage than leave the issue to MPs.