The comments were made in a reply to the question posed by a studio audience in ABC's 'Q and A', whose son is gay. He then concluded that the Prime Minister stood side-by-side with Opposition Leader Tony Abbot and the Australian Christian Lobby, whom he labels as an "extremist group".
Prime Minster Gillard explained her point of view using her own relationship with partner Tim Mathieson, saying: "I think you can have a relationship of love and commitment and trust and understanding that doesn't need a marriage certificate associated with it,"
"That's my life experience - so I'm speaking from that life experience."
Australian Christian Lobby has been known to be an active voice in campaigning against same-sex marriage, however mostly on the basis of children's right to both a father and a mother and the freedom of speech and religion.
Recently, the ACL has also highlighted the possibility of further change in the definition of marriage in the form of legalising polygamy, once marriage is no longer defined as the union of one man and one woman.