Even before the major parties stepped into the bargaining room for this morning's much-hyped plebiscite meeting, it promised to be a showdown about nothing.

Key points: George Brandis meets with Mark Dreyfus for talks on same-sex marriage plebiscite

George Brandis meets with Mark Dreyfus for talks on same-sex marriage plebiscite Mr Dreyfus says Government did not suggest any potential changes

Mr Dreyfus says Government did not suggest any potential changes Senator Brandis "disappointed" Labor "refused" to explain position

Attorney-General George Brandis invited shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus to the talks today, on the stalled push to set up a same-sex marriage plebiscite.

This morning, there were signs the discussion could be a silent standoff, both sides indicating they wanted to hear from the other side rather than proposing anything of their own.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters it was up to Bill Shorten to tell the Government what his party wanted.

"The ball is in his court," Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Dreyfus had already laid down his own marker, saying he wanted to see what the Government might put forward.

Last week Mr Dreyfus said he was prepared to listen to what the Government had to offer.

He pointed to two options, scrapping public funding and making the legislation "self-executing", so a public vote would be automatically backed by the Parliament.

Before the two Queen's Counsels walked into the room, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce had given an interview saying his party, the Government's Coalition partner, was not open to any change to the existing proposal.

Mr Shorten has previously indicated he plans to direct caucus colleagues to reject the legislation, effectively signalling the death of the bill given it is bereft of crossbench support.

Mr Dreyfus exited today's meeting with no sign of a compromise in sight.

"We got nothing," he told reporters.

"The Attorney-General did not suggest anything that the Government is prepared to change."

Government asked what Labor wanted nine times, Brandis says

Senator Brandis was also frustrated, saying he had tried to find common ground with Labor and was rebuffed.

"That is what I sought when I looked Mr Dreyfus in the eye," he said.

"By my count, on some nine occasions, I said to them: 'What do you want?'

"I assured them that any proposal they made would be considered seriously by the Government, would be considered in good faith, and that I would take to the Cabinet for consideration.

"I'm disappointed that on every occasion, when I asked Mr Dreyfus and Ms Butler to state what the Labor Party's position was, they refused to do so."

Both men have said they would be willing to meet again before Parliament returns.