More than 160 people voted in the poll this week, with 60 per cent saying it was time for the Federal Government to end marriage discrimination.

But the remaining 40 per cent said marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

The poll ran alongside a report on the ALP conference's decision at the weekend to support gay marriage with a bill to go before federal parliament next year.

But the conference also allowed Labor MPs a conscience vote on the issue, meaning the bill is likely to be defeated.

Calare MP John Cobb will oppose moves to legalise gay marr-iage but responses to the Western Advocate website suggest he may be out of step with his voters.

The overwhelming majority of responses posted by readers supp-orted same-sex marriage, with a respondent identified as About Time urging politicians to take a pragmatic approach to the issue.

"How often do they get to make a decision that won't leave anyone worse off?" he wrote.

"Allowing gay marriage will make one section of the community very happy and leave the rest completely unaffected ... Sounds like a no-brainer to me."

But Kelso33 said the issue should be taken out of the hands of politicians.

"Easy way to sort it out is to put it to a referendum," he said.

"The governing party should not be making decisions on issues such as this."

At least one respondent thought there were more pressing matters.

"Troops being killed in Afghan- istan; illegal immigrants; climate change; carbon tax; budget deficit; coal seam gas mining, etc ... and our pollies are wasting their time and our taxes discussing gay marriage?" Homophobe wrote.

"Marriage is a religious institution ... let the church decide."

Respondents to the Central Western Daily website recorded a similar results, with most supportive of same-sex marriage.