Australia

The government said a non-binding ballot, or plebiscite, was the quickest way to amend the Marriage Act..

Same-sex couples can have civil unions or registered relationships in most Australian states but they are not considered married under national law

Opinion polls indicate that most Australians support same-sex marriage.

However opposition parties and many supporters of same-sex marriage argued a plebiscite would be expensive and could unleash a divisive campaign.

Instead, they say parliament should make the decision itself.

The greatest track and field athlete of all time is likely to earn upwards of a million dollars as the star attraction in the inaugural edition of the Nitro Summer Series in Melbourne in the week of Feburary 5-11.

The series will involve up to eight teams representing countries and regions.

With the meets taking place so early in the year, the 30-year-old Bolt is likely to only contest relays.

But his signing is still a massive coup for Athletics Australia (AA) and the Victorian government.

The human rights group is one of many which has publicised abuses happening at the Australian run detention camps on Nauru and at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

Amnesty said recent research it has conducted shows the vast majority of New Zealanders want Prime Minister John Key and his government to challenge Australia over the abuses.

Its executive director, Grant Bayldon, said the silence has been deafening, given New Zealand's willingness to point to human rights abuses in other countries.

UNHCR's regional representative Thomas Albrecht said Australia should offer protection and respect to people arriving by boat.

He said the basic human right of every person to seek asylum from persecution is not diminished by their mode of arrival.

Mr Albrecht said those forced to flee persecution need and deserve conducive conditions of protection, and a sustainable long-term solution.

Meanwhile, the Australia-based Human Rights Law Centre says Canberra's proposed ban could affect 320 refugees already living there.

Speculation about such a deal has been prompted by the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's announcement that asylum-seekers who arrive by boat will be prevented by law from ever being let into the country.

The denial comes as a United Nations investigator arrives in Australia today for an 18-day visit to immigration detention centres.

The proposed Australian law would cover asylum-seekers on Manus Island and Nauru.

Forward Greg Eastwood is the only change to the 19-man squad named to face the home nation, replacing Canberra back rower Joseph Tapine.

"It's no secret this game is going to be won up front," says Kidwell. "Both teams have strong forward packs and we need our middle men to lead the way."

Kidwell and his coaching staff have put the full squad through their paces since arriving in England last Thursday.

"I'm really happy with how the boys have trained. We understand the challenge that's ahead of us and we need to be at our best," he says.

The New Zealanders thumped the Wallaroos 67-3 in their first Test on Saturday -- their 14th win against Australia in as many matches

But Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore said it wasn't a perfect game and they want to put out an even better performance today.

"We want to continue to grow our defense structures and then, a part that was pretty average for us we thought was our ball retention, particularly when taking the ball to ground and trying to recycle it," he said.

In a damning report Tuesday, United Nations special rapporteur Michel Forst said several human rights defenders had refused to meet him because of the fear of persecution.

"Many activists spoke of an atmosphere of fear, censorship and retaliation," Forst said.

Forst has just finished a two-week tour of Australia on behalf of the UN's Human Rights Council to assess how well human rights defenders were being treated in the country.

Australia transports asylum seekers who arrive by boat to off-shore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

An Amnesty International report said this was a "deliberate policy to inflict harm on refugees" and imposes conditions that "amount to torture".

Nauru has previously denied claims of abuse at the refugee centre.

Australia has been repeatedly criticised for its tough policy on refugees and asylum seekers.