Two of Malcolm Turnbull's most senior ministers have refused to say how they would vote in Parliament if the government's plebiscite on same-sex marriage is passed.
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Treasurer Scott Morrison refused six times to say how he would vote in Parliament on Tuesday night, while Foreign Minister and deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop said the question was "hypothetical".
Speaking on ABC TV's 7.30 on Tuesday night, Mr Morrison stuck carefully to his position that he would "respect the outcome" of the national vote, refusing to say how he would vote on subsequent legislation.
Asked by host Leigh Sales what he would do in the Parliament if his Sydney electorate of Cook voted against changing the Marriage Act in the plebiscite, Mr Morrison avoided answering directly but said he had been a proponent of the plebiscite in the Coalition party room.
"My view is, if the plebiscite is carried nationally, then the legislation should pass," Mr Morrison said.
"If the plebiscite is not carried, then I think that settles the matter."
Asked again how he would vote in the Parliament if the plebiscite was carried, Mr Morrison said again he would "respect the outcome of the plebiscite".
"Why can't you just answer that question clearly, would you vote for same-sex marriage, yes or no?", Sales asked.
"Leigh, I will use my words, you can use yours and you're not allowed to put words in my mouth," Mr Morrison said.
When challenged for "clarity" for the audience, Mr Morrison said: "You've got it."
"What I will do is respect the outcome of the plebiscite and if the plebiscite passes, then the legislation will pass. I give you that commitment.
"I get to choose the words I use as a politician. You get to use the words you use to put questions, and that's how it works," he said.
In a separate interview on Lateline, Ms Bishop said she would look at the plebiscite's overall result, as well as votes in individual electorates, states and territories.
Echoing Mr Morrison, Ms Bishop said she would "respect the outcome".
"That will depend on the plebiscite vote overall, how it is broken down and what it looks like state by state, electorate by electorate and then, of course, it will depend what the legislation looks like," she said.
"I would take my electorate's view into account, but I would also take into account how the plebiscite played out across Australia because, for example, a referendum gets up if it is a majority of states, majority of people in the majority of states."
Fairfax Media last week reported that a secret push is under way within the Coalition to hobble any positive public vote in favour of marriage equality by giving MPs permission to vote in Parliament against reform if their individual electorates had voted "no".
The planned plebiscite is not a referendum and would not traditionally require the double-majority support required for referendums to change the Constitution.
When pressed, Ms Bishop said a national majority would be "pretty compelling".
She refused to say how she would vote if the plebiscite was passed.
"I always have a look at what the legislation says and I will respect the outcome of the plebiscite."
The plebiscite has remained a difficult issue for the Coalition in the election campaign, including after former Tony Abbott staffer Peta Credlin said on Monday the issue could cause a "schism" within the Coalition.
Ms Credlin said the issue could cost Malcolm Turnbull the prime ministership if the Liberal and National parties splinter.
