No-vote senator wants gay marriage solved

Government backbencher Eric Abetz doesn't believe his colleague Dean Smith's bill for same-sex marriage is necessarily an appropriate starting point.

Liberal backbencher Eric Abetz wants gay marriage legislation to be dealt with by Christmas if the postal vote returns a yes result next Wednesday.

But Senator Abetz, a prominent No campaigner, said if debate goes into next year then "so be it".

He doesn't believe his Liberal colleague Dean Smith's private members bill for same-sex marriage is necessarily an appropriate starting point.