Key figures on the conservative side of Australian politics have conceded, and some even supported, that homosexual men and women will soon be given the right to wed.

On Thursday, high-profile columnist Andrew Bolt wrote that same-sex marriage advocates had won “the battle”.

“The public is already open to the change,” Mr Bolt wrote for News Corp.

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He joined fellow conservative Alan Jones, who has not only predicted the change in marriage definition, but welcomed it.

“When people find love they should be able to celebrate it,” the veteran broadcaster said on Wednesday during his morning radio show.

“They shouldn’t be discriminated against according to the nature of that love.

“To deny people the recognition for a relationship which is based on love is to deny in my opinion one of humankind’s most basic, but as I said elusive, qualities.”

Another conservative radio host, Neil Mitchell, backed the change earlier in the week, saying it was “embarrassing” it had not happened sooner.

“Just do it,” was Mr Mitchell’s message for the nation.

“We need a parliament that governs with an ear to the people and an eye to the future,” he said.

Mr Mitchell criticised Christian churches for the opposition of many (but not all) of its many denominations, clergy and members.

“Gay marriage is not an obscenity. I’ll tell you what is, child abuse is an obscenity, and the church has almost run a franchise operation on that over the years.”

One of the nation’s foremost Christian lobby groups acknowledged the change in mood, saying the parliament has ‘capitulated’ on the issue.

The Prime Minister himself, a life-long opponent, has also admitted that momentum is growing, using the example of his own family.

“Inside the Abbott family I’m probably the last holdout for the traditional position,” Mr Abbott told the media this week.

Support for gay marriage is as high as 70 per cent amongst the general population, some recent polls have found.

Labor has promised to submit a marriage equality bill to parliament next week, despite both the Greens and Senator David Leyonhjelm already proposed similar draft laws.

The issue has regained prominence after Ireland voted resoundingly in support in a recent referendum.