Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has fired a warning shot at Labor, warning that same sex marriage could be left off the national agenda for a "very long time" if plans for a plebiscite are rejected.
"If the Labor party wants to frustrate that, well all that will mean is that the resolution of the same-sex marriage issue will be postponed potentially for a very long time," Mr Turnbull told the Financial Review.
Mr Turnbull introduced legislation to let the public have a say on the issue on Wednesday, but prime minister's bid for a plebiscite appears headed for defeat.
Special Minister of State Scott Ryan said the coalition took the plebiscite plan to the federal election.
"An election win needs to mean something, when you have a black and white promise," he told ABC radio.
