But he also senses a shift in the Parkes electorate that may influence a future vote on reform of the Marriage Act.

Marriage equality continues to be in the spotlight as Australians and politicians grapple with the issue.

A national and community-driven campaign led by Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has gathered together high-profile and ordinary Australians, corporations and local government councils in a bid to influence federal politicians to legislate in favour of same-sex marriage.

This week Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson told advocates of marriage equality in the city that they would need to lobby councillors "if they want council to do something about it".

At the same time federal Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek was unsettling her party with a call for a binding vote on same-sex marriage.

Four years ago Labor's national conference approved a conscience vote. AME has been asking the federal government to deliver on a promise to allow the Coalition party room to debate whether its members should get the same.

National director Rodney Croome has told the Daily Liberal that a cross-party conscience would give marriage equality a "fighting chance".

"The vote is hard to predict, especially in the lower house, but if enough supporters in the community speak out I'm cautiously optimistic it will get through," he said.

This week Mr Coulton hosed down expectations that a conscience vote for the Liberals and the Nationals would lead to reform of the Act in the immediate future.

"My assessment of the members of parliament at the moment is probably that they would not be in favour of gay marriage," he said.

"I don't think there will be a vote on gay marriage in the near future, conscience vote or otherwise."

Mr Coulton said he believed he was "reflecting my constituents" in his current opposition to changing the Act.

"My feeling is that there is still a majority opposed, but I believe the idea is gaining acceptance," he said.

"So I would imagine that we will get to a point where it probably will be accepted, and I think that's probably a few years down the track.

"I think eventually it will happen but it's not going to happen any time soon."