THE Health Minister Sussan Ley yesterday refused to say how she might vote on same-sex marriage but again said she favoured a conscience vote on the issue.

The member for Farrer said she would take “a careful look” at any legislation put forward before deciding her stance.

It comes as her Indi counterpart, independent MP Cathy McGowan, declared she, too, would not vote point-blank for any bill put forward, despite her support for same-sex marriage.

It is looking increasingly likely both MPs will have to decide where they stand sooner rather than later, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten saying he would table a same-sex marriage bill in Parliament on Monday.

Two other bills on the subject are on notice in the Senate — from the Greens and independent senator David Leyonhjelm.

Ms Ley, has said she would be unlikely to support a change to the Marriage Act.

She came under fire last year from the Border gay and lesbian community for telling ABC’s Q&A Farrer was ready for same-sex marriage.

She became the target of lobby group Australian Marriage Equality.

It revealed a poll by Crosby Textor — used by the Liberal Party for much of its own polling — showed 86 per cent of Farrer residents supported the change.

Ms Ley yesterday avoided telling The Border Mail her preference, saying: “Before I make a decision on any vote I’ll do what I always do, which is take a careful look at the actual legislation and this hasn’t been presented yet”.

She was keen there be a conscience vote and said feedback from the electorate had helped her form that view.

Ms Ley said the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, was “spot on” with his call this week for a cross-party bill to remove the politics from the debate.

Ms McGowan agreed, saying all parties should work to “get the best legislation we can”.

While Ms McGowan has been on the record as a same-sex marriage supporter since the 2013 election, she yesterday said that did not mean she would automatically vote for any bill presented.

“The interesting thing will be the detail in the bill,” she said. “I want to make sure it is strong, sustainable and just.”

She hoped Coalition MPs would have a conscience vote and “as an independent, I think every vote should be a conscience vote”.