PM Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: Kym Smith

SAME sex marriage in Australia is dead until at least 2019 after the senate tonight blocked a plebiscite on the issue.

The government’s push for a 170 million public vote was sunk 33 votes to 29 meaning there is no path to legalising gay marriage in Australia.

The Turnbull government has indicated the only way same sex marriage would be legalised was via a vote of the people.

Labor and the Greens insist it should be a parliamentary vote.

The stalemate means the debate will be taken off the agenda until the next term of parliament.