Malcolm Turnbull says the government could make changes to its proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite in a bid to get Labor on board.
Labor leader Bill Shorten is expected to advise the caucus at its next meeting in October to block the plebiscite bill, arguing it is expensive and will foster hate and division in the community.
The Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Victorian senator Derryn Hinch have stated their opposition to the bill, meaning it will fail if Labor does not support it.
The prime minister told 3AW radio on Friday the plebiscite was an election promise, but admitted it could join budget savings and superannuation on the negotiation table.
"We may have to negotiate on all of these matters," he said.
"The one thing that is very clear is that you cannot expect to get legislation through the Senate on a take-it-or-leave-it basis unless people agree with the proposition."
The plebiscite scheduled for February 11 is set to cost $170 million including $15 million of public funding evenly divided between the yes and no cases.
Asked whether compromise on budget bills showed there was scope for a deal on the same-sex marriage bill, Treasurer Scott Morrison said they were "different issues".
"As treasurer I have carriage of matters relating to the budget and that's what I'll continue to focus on. But I don't draw a parallel between those two issues. I know others have, but I don't."
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese, who wants parliament to decide on the issue without the need for a national ballot, said Mr Turnbull was proving to be a "flexible fellow".
"I think the more Malcolm Turnbull adopts Labor policies, the better the government will be and the better Australia will be," Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
"I think Malcolm Turnbull ... surely has to acknowledge he never supported a plebiscite. A plebiscite was imposed on him by Tony Abbott."
Liberal frontbencher Zed Seselja, one of a number of conservatives who back the plebiscite, said any changes would have to adhere to the party's "values".
He said allowing a free vote within Liberal ranks - which is one possible compromise - would be a "completely different policy" to that taken to the election.
Meanwhile, Labor figures were sent scrambling in the wake of veteran senator Stephen Conroy announcing his retirement after 20 years in parliament.
Senator Conroy tabled a copy of his retirement speech in parliament on Thursday night, but news of his quitting to spend more time with his family did not break until 12 hours later - catching all of his colleagues unaware including Mr Shorten and Ms Plibersek.
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