FORMER Greens leader Bob Brown declared "hearts were broken all over Australia today" after federal parliament rejected a bill to legalise same-sex marriage.

Doctor Brown, who stepped down from his role in April, told ABC's 7.30 program the vote was a "very poor outcome for democracy and a failure for leadership". He put the blame squarely at the feet of Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott. The government allowed a conscience vote whilst the coalition did not.