Speaking following the decision, Shorten argued that the $200 million poll is a waste of taxpayers' money when the issue could be settled quickly by a free vote in parliament.



"Children do not need to go to school in the climate of a plebiscite and have the integrity of their parents' relationship challenged," he said.

"I could not look at these loving families – the parents of gay people, people in committed same-sex relationships, young people whose parents are gay – and say to them that this plebiscite was good for them."

The opposition leader challenged prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to bring on a free vote on marriage equality in the parliament.

"The prime minister and I both support marriage equality," Shorten said. "The majority of the parliament supports marriage equality. The people of Australia, I think, significantly support marriage equality.

"So the message that thousands of Australians have given to me I now relay to Malcolm Turnbull: Marriage equality, let's make it a reality, let's just get on with it."