Bill Shorten is resisting pressure to declare Labor's post-election position on a same-sex marriage plebiscite if it fails to win government on Saturday.
The opposition leader is refusing to countenance a coalition win, vowing to make legalisation of gay marriage the first legislative business of a Labor government.
It's a step-up from his previous promise to legislate within 100 days of winning power.
But a question mark hangs over what position Labor will take on the issue under a re-elected Turnbull government.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says a plebiscite will be held before the end of the year once parliament has passed enabling legislation.
It's almost certain the coalition won't have the numbers in the new Senate to carry the day, forcing it to rely on Labor, the Greens or an unknown number of crossbenchers.
"Why should I have to accept and sign-up to Malcolm Turnbull's grubby deal with the right wing of his party? Mr Shorten asked at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
"I'm not going to."
The Labor leader predicted the issue would spark a civil war inside the government after Saturday.
However, senior conservatives in the coalition are lining up to back the outcome of a plebiscite.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is also leader of junior coalition partner The Nationals, is the latest cabinet minister to declare he will back a majority yes vote in parliament.
Mr Joyce pledged to put aside his personal support for the status quo definition of marriage if a planned plebiscite decides the other way.
"I will follow the instructions of the Australian people," he said.
Mr Joyce joins cabinet colleagues Scott Morrison and Mathias Cormann, also supporters of traditional marriage, who have declared they will respect the majority view.
Conservative Liberal senator Zed Seselja has indicated he is likely to abstain from any parliamentary vote.
"I certainly won't frustrate it," he said.
"It would be absolutely absurd to go to the Australian people with a plebiscite and then reject what they've done."
Mr Turnbull said he could understand people questioning a plebiscite, but argued it was a "thoroughly democratic procedure".
"If the plebiscite is passed, the legislation will sail through the parliament," he said.
"There are people who will definitely vote no in the plebiscite, but support it in the parliament."
The position of three of the coalition's most senior figures is at odds with the view of Tony Abbott's former chief of staff Peta Credlin.
She has warned of a "schism" in the coalition over its plebiscite plan, predicting any enabling legislation could fail to pass parliament.
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