This jurisdiction pre-empted the national debate when, in October 2013, it passed the Marriage Equality Same Sex Act nine votes to eight.

The motion was supported by the Labor members and Greens MLA, Shane Rattenbury, but opposed by the Canberra Liberals.

While critics, including Opposition leader Alistair Coe, are within their rights to argue against the use of taxpayers resources as part of this process, Mr Barr is equally entitled to say a majority of ACT taxpayers would want the "yes" case to get up.

This city has long been known for its tolerance on racial, sexual and religious matters.

It has also learnt, from first hand experience, the sky does not fall in if you allow same sex individuals to celebrate their love for each other with their friends and family in the same way as any other Australians.

The only thing of real consequence that happened in the short period same sex couples were allowed to marry in the ACT in 2013 was that at least 54 people rushed to the altar, or to be more accurate, its civil equivalents, in the five day window between the legislation taking effect and its being overturned by the High Court on December 12.

Attorney General, George Brandis, and the then Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, had both opposed its introduction and challenged the legislation as soon as it was passed.

Katy Gallagher responded by challenging Mr Abbott and other Federal MPs to address the issue, something they have been reluctant to do.

While all of the Canberra marriages were annulled as a result of the High Court Decision several important points had been made.

Notable among these was that there was obviously strong support for the initiative in Canberra, no opponents of same sex marriage were harmed in the making of any of the unions and a lot of people discovered a happiness hitherto denied.

While the amount the ACT Government is proposing to spend on the "yes" campaign has yet to be disclosed, Mr Barr has spoken about turning buses and flagpoles into symbols of support and flagged the possibility of "rainbow" roundabouts and rainbow-themed murals.

Given there is an argument the survey process itself is flawed with the Federal Parliament not committed to either respecting or acting on its findings, there is a case to be made for keeping a tight rein on any tax-payer funded expenditure on the "yes" case.

That said, Mr Barr would appear to be on the right side of history when he says the majority of Canberrans would support what he is doing and that marriage equality is an idea whose time has come.