One of the lead campaigners behind Ireland's historic same-sex marriage referendum has urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and parliamentarians not to go ahead with a plebiscite, warning the experience was "brutal" for gay and lesbian people and their families.
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Grainne Healy, co-director of the Yes Equality campaign, said Irish volunteers needed counselling after abuse and hate speech from reform opponents, calling for MPs to stop Australia from seeing an unnecessary plebiscite campaign.
In a letter to all MPs, Dr Healy said a plebiscite on same-sex marriage would bring about hurtful and divisive commentary under the guise of fair debate.
"The 'no' side posters which declared that 'every child deserves a mother and a father' were deeply hurtful and upsetting for LGBT-headed families as they passed the posters on lamp posts and billboards across the country - explaining to our children that they were OK and trying to hide the posters from them was awful for LGBT parenting families.
"Likewise, some LGBT canvassers who were out asking for rights for themselves suffered greatly from the hateful comments they heard on doorsteps and in train or bus stations while canvassing."
Dr Healy warned MPs not to underestimate how damaging the campaign ahead of a vote, now expected in February, could be.
Ireland's May 2015 referendum saw 62 per cent of voters support same-sex marriage, resulting in changes to the country's constitution.
The referendum sparked a renewed push for equality in federal Parliament, but a plebiscite in Australia would only be advisory.
"As a civil and human rights issue of equality, as a matter of family equality and as a matter of equality for our sons and daughters and our friends and workmates - legislation to introduce marriage equality is what is needed in Australia and those who support marriage equality rights must move to see that legislation introduced as quickly as possible and the proposed divisive plebiscite should not take place."
On Tuesday, an Essential poll found 62 per cent of voters support same-sex marriage, while the same number oppose taxpayer money being given to the 'yes' and 'no' campaigns.
Labor frontbencher Jim Chalmers said a vote in Parliament was still the most appropriate way to legalise same-sex marriage.
"We are trying to get the parliamentary outcome that people expect us to get," he told ABC radio.
"We are putting all of our effort into that."
Newly elected Victorian senator Derryn Hinch said the vote was unnecessary and a waste of money.
"They will muddy the question and muddy the waters so much it will get a 'no' vote," he warned.
"It could be off the agenda for 20 years and we will become an international laughing stock."
Spokesman for LGBTI rights group Just Equal, Ivan Hinton-Teoh, said the letter showed Ireland's referendum came at a serious human cost.
"In Australia we saw the rainbow flags being waved on Ireland's referendum day, but not the hidden damage to LGBTI people, our families and allies that Grainne Healy highlights," he said.
"Dr Healy's message to Australia is to consider the cost of the Irish battle, not just the relief of the victory.
"With senior Irish campaigners urging us not to go down the plebiscite path we must abandon the idea."
