For critics of the government's constitutionally pointless marriage poll, the time has come to "flag down a black cab and head for Real Street", as Red Dwarf's Dave Lister would say.

Time for progressives – if not the LGBTI community, which must speak for itself – to pop a prophylactic Quick-Eze and prepare to eat Humble Pie.

Time to give Malcolm Turnbull, George Brandis, and yes, even Peter Dutton, their due credit.

From its comical inception, the Coalition's ungainly "snail-mail" survey championed amazingly by the ultra-conservative Dutton, was the butt of derisive humour.