PENNY Wong has called for people not to be scared by gay marriage and predicted laws would eventually be changed to ''recognise the worth'' of relationships between same-sex couples.

In a speech in Sydney yesterday to Rainbow Labor, an internal Labor Party campaign group for gay issues, the federal minister said people who opposed gay marriage had ''nothing to fear''.

''Equality does not diminish the worth of your relationships, it simply recognises the worth of ours,'' Senator Wong, who is in openly gay relationship, said. ''When we are told these relationships are different, that they should be treated differently, we understand the truth of what is being said. And it can be hurtful. But instead of flinching, we are motivated to act because we all know the worth of our relationships. That is why this campaign will continue and that is why change will come.''

Senator Wong, the Minister for Finance, used her speech to urge voters not to abandon the Labor Party.