Same sex marriage will be back at the centre of political debate this week, with Labor set to attempt to bring on a vote on the contentious issue.

A cross-party same sex marriage bill has sat on the notice paper for months, but opposition frontbencher Terri Butler will try to force the issue this week.

Opposition frontbencher Terri Butler says a plebiscite on same sex marriage will achieve nothing and be a waste of money. Credit:Daniel Adams

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull remains intent on a national plebiscite to decide the matter, but Labor has recently seized on comments by some conservative Liberals that they would not be bound to vote in favour of same sex marriage no matter what the result of the plebiscite.

Ms Butler's chances of bringing on debate and a vote are slim, with the government in control of the agenda in the House of Representatives, but it is not impossible.