Warren Entsch says marriage equality campaigners are 'lost in the fight'

Champions for same sex marriage have gotten 'lost in the fight' and have forgotten what it is they're actually trying to achieve, Liberal National MP Warren Entsch says.

Warren Entsch, a strong advocate of marriage equality, made the comments on the eve of Labor's Caucus meeting, in which Opposition Leader Bill Shorten plans to lay out his party's formal stance on the controversial plebiscite. 

All indications point to Labor killing off the public poll, instead pushing for a free vote in the parliament, however, Mr Entsch believes that will prove to be a mistake.   

"What I'm pleading with the other side to do is look at the outcome, what we're trying to achieve here, rather than the politics and the fight," Mr Entsch told SBS.

"For those that say 'we'll sit back and wait for the next parliament,' there's no guarantee that Labor's going to win the next parliament." 

It wasn't long ago that the Cairns MP was himself pushing for a free vote within the Coalition, campaigning which ultimately lead to a marathon seven-hour party room meeting and the now controversial policy dividing the public. 

Mr Entsch said he had changed his mind. He now believes a plebiscite is the best and only way to decide whether to change the Marriage Act.  

"I've come to the realisation that it doesn't matter if in a politicians vote it's 'yes' or 'no' it will be challenged," he said. 

"There will be continued debate on it."

The Cairns MP said the only way to put the matter to rest was by letting the people decide. 

"I accept that I lost votes on the basis of a plebiscite, and I won votes on the basis of a plebiscite," Mr Entsch said. 

Sitting in front of his computer in his Parliament House office, the veteran MP reads aloud emails he's received from marriage equality supporters. Most of them have popped into his inbox since the July 2 election. 

They're abusive in tone and all describe in detailed vulgarity a disappointment with his decision to support, and advocate for, a public poll.

"Some of the language, the foul language and abuse that I'm copping because I'm trying to get this matter dealt with quickly," he said.

It's the language he's heard from both sides of the debate that has lead to him advocating for something else: public funding for mental health organisations in the now unlikely event a public poll finds its legs.  

"That money will certainly in my view be utilised for young people that are impacted by the debate," he said.

"Make no bones about it, whether it be a plebiscite or whether it be a parliamentary vote, they'll still be impacted by it and so I think it's important that we give that consideration."

Mr Entsch said both sides of the extreme were equally to blame for some very irresponsible and inappropriate vitriol. 

As for whether he'd cross the floor to allow such a change? 

"If I cross the floor all I'm doing is crossing the floor to support a break in a election commitment, that's what it'll be seen as," he said.

The conversation shifts towards what the unlikely advocate from the north would campaign for should the plebiscite end up dead, buried and cremated. 

"I desperately want to get my banking tribunal up."