Indigenous and gay vote could coincide: MP

A Liberal MP doesn't want a gay marriage plebiscite at an election but says it could be held with a referendum on indigenous constitutional recognition.

A federal Liberal MP believes voters are mature enough to consider both a plebiscite on same-sex marriage and a referendum on recognising indigenous Australians in the constitution.

Andrew Laming doesn't want the plebiscite to coincide with a general election because other issues needed clear air.

"We do have a heritage of taking contrasting questions to referendums," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.