WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE 'YES' RESULT:



* "The Australian people have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly 'yes' for marriage equality. Now it is our job to deliver it." - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra.



* "Today we celebrate, tomorrow we legislate." - Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in Melbourne.



* "Love is love, always was love, always will be love." - entertainer Kylie Minogue on Twitter.



* "I was so proud of Ireland in May 2015 when they became the first nation in the world to vote for marriage equality. But today I am even more proud of Australia, the country of my selection." - Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce in Sydney.



* "What today means is, it's brought us all together under the law. It speaks of a fairer and more equitable Australia." - Former Olympian Ian Thorpe in Sydney.



* "None of us can live in a bubble where we try to pretend other people don't exist ... we can rely on the Australian people to do the bloody right thing." - Comedian Magda Szubanski in Sydney.



* "Assuming this legislation gets passed quickly, as it should, kids ... can know they have the same opportunities, the same future, the same rights, the same equality under the law that everybody else does." - Sydney Councillor and ex-prime minister Tony Abbott's sister Christine Forster in Sydney.



* "I congratulate the 'yes' campaign on their achievement.The people have spoken and, of course, the parliament should respect the result." - former prime minister Tony Abbott on Facebook.



* "While we are naturally disappointed in today's result, we accept and respect the decision of the Australian people." - Coalition for Marriage spokesman Lyle Shelton in Sydney.



* "During the campaign, people who expressed a belief in traditional marriage have been targeted and I am concerned those people will not be protected." - Pediatrician and No campaigner Pansy Lai in Sydney.



* "If they decide to ignore both our heritage and our biological reality by redefining marriage, then they must also enact broad and rigorous protections for the large percentage of Australians with religious or conscientious objections to it." - FamilyVoice Australia national director Ashley Saunders in Sydney.



* "While I do not deny the good will of many who voted 'yes', I am deeply disappointed that the likely result will be legislation to further deconstruct marriage and family in Australia." - Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher.