The owner of a small Canberra business has sacked a contractor after they "made it public knowledge that they feel 'it's okay to vote no'."

Entertainment company owner Madlin Sims said she there was no need for people to advertise their desire to vote no for same sex marriage, which in her eyes was "hate speech".

"Voting no is homophobic. Advertising your homophobia is hate speech. " Ms Sims wrote on Facebook.

"As a business owner I can't have somebody who publicly represents my business posting hate speech online."

View photos Madlin Sims said she fired a staff member for saying 'it is okay to vote no'. Source: Facebook More

Reiterating that her decision was not a "you're voting no, you're fired situation", Ms Sims explained why she felt the need to cease the person's employment.

"It's bad for business... I don't like s*** morals... I don't want homophobes working for me, especially in an environment with children," she added.

"It's not okay to vote no. It's not okay to be homophobic. This isn't a matter of opinion or even religion. It's a matter of the love & livelihood of real human beings."

Ms Sims added that "freedom of speech is there for a reason and so are consequences", but Facebook users were quick to question whether her motive was a little hypocritical.

View photos

"It is ok to vote no that's his choice like you said Sims Madlin freedom of speech, and you sacked him or her for it," one man wrote.

"If I was that person you sacked I’d be finding a solicitor real quick for unfair dismissal,” another added.

"Your actions were unfair and hypocritical. Some homosexuals have expressed they will vote no, are they homophobes?" a woman commented.

Others were quick to jump to Ms Sims' defence and throw their support behind her reasoning.

"Madlin that's the best!! I'm so proud of you for standing up!!," one woman commented.

"You'll be getting my business in the future!" another wrote.

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