Victoria minister defends inclusive language guide

The Victorian government has defended an inclusive language guide for public servants which suggests they avoid using the terms "husband" and "wife".

Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed the government has no alternative plans to legalise gay marriage. Source: AAP

Victorian Equality Minister Martin Foley has hit back at critics of the state government's inclusive language guide which advises public servants to avoid assuming people are married and using terms such as "husband" and "wife".

Mr Foley says the guide - which was released more than six months ago - encourages public servants to be inclusive and is similar to guides on dealing with ethnically diverse groups, disabled people, the mentally ill and indigenous Australians.

"It is a guide which suggests that you should try and avoid the use of husband and wife - it doesn't ban it," Mr Foley said in a statement on Friday. "It makes the point that we shouldn't assume that a person is married."