Advocates have praised Bill Shorten for declaring he will recommend Labor votes down a marriage equality plebiscite, but have cautioned the campaign to defeat a plebiscite is not over.

 

Bill Shorten today said he will recommend to Labor caucus that it vote as a bloc against the Turnbull Government's proposed plebiscite, ensuring it will be defeated in the Senate.

 

Spokesperson for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Sharyn Faulkner, said,

 

"We applaud Bill Shorten for his strong leadership against a plebiscite."

 

"Many LGBTI people welcome a leader who is sensitive to the hurt and harm a plebiscite will cause us."

 

But spokesperson for LGBTI advocacy group, just.equal, Ivan Hinton-Teoh, sounded a note of caution.

 

"The plebiscite isn't dead until the final vote in the Senate kills it off."

 

"Over the coming weeks we will step up our campaign to expose problems with a plebiscite and ensure the Senate votes it down as emphatically as possible."

 

"We will also be working to bring MPs together across the let divide to develop plans for achieving marriage equality through a free vote on co-sponsored legislation."

 

Mrs Faulkner and Mr Hinton-Teoh said they will soon release more information about the dangers of a plebiscite and will be encouraging opponents of a plebiscite to write to their senators.