Thousands participated in a rally in Melbourne today to increase pressure on the government for marriage equality.

Protestors stood outside the state library and listened to speeches from politicians and activists, including leader of the opposition Bill Shorten.

Shorten said: ‘They [right-wing liberals] are holding Australia back.

‘It should not be the case that people are treated as second class citizens merely because of who they love.’

He said he disagreed with holding a conscience vote, as it would merely ‘tell us what we know’ – the country is already in favor of marriage equality.

‘That will be a $150 million taxpayer-funded opinion poll to tell us what we know, we want marriage equality now,’ he said.

In July, Shorten said his Labour party would pass a marriage equality bill before 100 days of their government.

A Galaxy 2009-2012 poll found 64% of people in the country were in favor of marriage equality – three-quarters said they thought some amendment of the current laws regarding marriage was ‘inevitable’.

The group of about 2500 people according to Nine News then went to a mass wedding (although of course the marriages are not recognized by the Australian government).

The rally was organized by Equal Love, an Australian marriage equality campaign group.