Our picture shows Prime Minister Julia Gillard meeting last night with three same-sex couples, who chatted to her about marriage equality – and she made an extraordinary admission.

Since she swept into power, the PM had been a staunch opponent of changing the Marriage Act, even going against almost all her party’s state leaders – and national polls which put support for marriage equality at around 62% – on the issue.

But last night over dinner at the Lodge, Australian Marriage Equality advocate Alex Greenwich says Gillard was a receptive audience.

“The Prime Minister listened carefully to the case for equality, and gave us all hope when she said the reform would happen one day,” Greenwich reports back.

Among the dining couples were John and Steve from Gillard’s own electorate. “We shared with the Prime Minister that this reform was widely supported within her own electorate of Lalor,” they say.

NSW couple Sandy and Lou also chatted to Julia, and had brought along their two young boys. “The Prime Minister made the point that the more countries that embrace this reform, the clearer it becomes that this is a reform whose time has come,” they reveal.

Brisbane pair Sharon and Elaine were also confidant that Gillard was making progress. “Although she said she opposed marriage equality, we were given hope that her opposition was not immovable,” they explain.

Everyone at the dinner, including the PM, agreed the opposition should allow a free vote. Tony Abbott also opposes marriage equality, but since some of his opposition MPs support the cause, allowing a conscience vote means a Marriage Equality Bill has a chance of moving through into law.