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US comedian Jack Black has condemned Tony Abbott's stance on marriage equality, saying the world is moving toward greater equality and the prime minister is "living in the stone ages."
Black made the comments during an interview with 2Day FM hosts Dan Debuf and Maz Compton on Thursday.
The pair asked Black to consider exploring Mr Abbott’s position on gay marriage for a storyline on his new show, Brink.
"We seem to be focusing more on military coups," Black said.
"I personally think the guy's living in the stone ages though. He's not seeing the writing on the wall.
"The movement of the world is headed towards equality for all people, all sexual preferences. Come on, we are all the same in the end.
"Who cares what gives you a b---r?"
Black rounded off the interview by saying Tony Abbott sounded like a “bit of a nutter,” to laughter from the hosts.
"I personally think the guy's living in the stone ages though. He's not seeing the writing on the wall."
Tony Abbott this week rejected the idea of a free vote on same-sex marriage, saying the decision needed to be made by the Australian people.
Mr Abbott flagged the idea of holding a plebiscite or referendum on gay marriage, a position not supported by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"The reason I haven't advocated a plebiscite after the next election is that it will mean that this issue is a live issue all the way up to the next election and, indeed, at the next election," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
"One of the attractions of a free vote is that it would have meant the matter would be resolved in this parliament, one way or another, in a couple of weeks," he said.
Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek was also critical of the idea, describing it as a "delay tactic."
“It’s a sign of desperation and another delaying tactic, because we know from a variety of surveys that the majority of the Australian population support this,” she said.
- With AAP
