Canberra's Catholic Archbishop has backed calls for hardline laws to allow businesses and individuals to refuse service for same-sex weddings because of religious and moral objections.
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Archbishop Christopher Prowse said he was disappointed by Wednesday's same-sex marriage survey results but respected the outcome and acknowledged overwhelming support for changes to the law by Canberrans.
"The priority now is for a comprehensive undertaking by the government to bring in legislation that really does cater for a not insignificant amount of people who will find this very difficult to follow through," he said.
"I am thinking of those with religious objections - other than marriage celebrants - and I'm thinking of non-religious objections, people who have freedom on conscious there."
He said businesses including bakers, reception venues, florists, photographers, musicians and hospitality workers should be able to express their freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of conscience by refusing service to same-sex couples.
A private senator's bill proposed by Liberal James Paterson this week has been welcomed by opponents of same-sex marriage, who deny provisions allowing for refusal of service for weddings would be a backwards step in Australia's anti-discrimination laws.
Support for the bill appeared to crumble after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and senior ministers said such hardline rules were unlikely to pass Parliament.
Asked if similar refusal of service to Catholics would be discriminatory, Archbishop Prowse said Australia was "moving into an uncertain future" and that some four million people had not supported change.
The leader of 55 parishes and about 17,000 faithful who attend mass each week, he said Australia was not currently well placed on matters of religious human rights, freedom to practice religious beliefs and freedom of conscience.
"The Catholic Church obviously continues its promotion of practice of our belief in marriage, which is a life-long loving communion of a man and a woman open to the possibility of children.
"We're in a very in a very fluid society today where the changing of the goal posts are happening. There are some enviable principles that go beyond immediate concerns that need to be respected as well.
"Clearly the Catholic position does not change and we hope to be able to defend traditional marriage as a great gift of humanity in our society, despite the context is clearly changing rapidly," he said.
Migrant and refugee resettlement organisation AMES Australia welcomed the result, which it said would give heart to LGBTI people in culturally diverse communities.
Chief executive Cath Scarth said the result sent a message that Australians embrace diversity.
"The result will give heart to LGBTI people in culturally and linguistically diverse communities who can face extra barriers and cultural difficulties in living in same sex relationships.
"We know that it can be difficult for some people come out to family or friends when they are not sure they'll be supported," she said.
"We hope the result of them postal poll sends a message that Australia is a tolerant, welcoming society where diversity is embraced."
