Today the Greens failed to support a motion to bring on debate in the Senate on their own marriage equality bill.

Its an act of political cowardice unworthy of a party that used to be led by women and men of principle.

A motion proposed by Senator Leyonhjelm today would require the Government to list the marriage equality bill alongside the voting bill and deal with it before the Senate rises this week.

Instead, the Greens want to shoehorn debate on marriage equality into an hour set aside for debate on a Labor Private Senators Bill on Thursday morning.

This is manifestly inadequate, and the Greens know it.

They take this position knowing one hour is not sufficient time to debate marriage equality and the Government can and will frustrate a vote.

Its an attempt to distract attention from their shameless deal with the Liberal and National Parties.

The Greens are jettisoning principle to honour a dirty deal with the Coalition on Senate voting.

Its time the Greens leadership found a backbone.