With Julia Gillard now joining the ranks of same-sex marriage supporters, Labor leader Bill Shorten says enough is enough and politicians need to get out of people's bedrooms.
But Prime Minister Tony Abbott has hit back at his predecessor's comment that a people's vote on same-sex marriage is illogical and dangerous.
Ms Gillard, who has decided to throw her support behind same-sex marriage, believes a plebiscite or referendum would potentially undermine voter confidence in the parliamentary process.
"Julia Gillard will have an opportunity to cast her vote on this matter just as every other Australian will," Mr Abbott told the Seven Network on Thursday.
"Every voter, about 18 million of us, will have the chance to have our say on this in the next term of parliament, should the coalition get elected."
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Mr Shorten again promised a Labor government would bring legislation for change to parliament within 100 days.
"I welcome Julia Gillard joining the ranks of now probably 70 per cent of Australians saying enough's enough, the time for marriage equality is here," he told reporters in Melbourne.
He couldn't understand why Mr Abbott seemed "so hung up about who marries who".
"It really is none of our business."
Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne, who hails from Adelaide like Ms Gillard, said he never really believed the former prime minister's previous stance.
She previously explained her opposition to marriage equality in terms of a 1970s feminist argument that marriage was a patriarchal institution.
But on Wednesday she revealed she now supported a change.
"Knowing her background and history from student politics, I was always very surprised she was against marriage equality, and quite frankly I didn't believe it," Mr Pyne told the Seven Network.
"That she is now saying she is in favour of marriage equality sits much more with her position on the left of the political spectrum."
