Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had defended Labor's refusal to declare a final position on the government's same-sex marriage plebiscite until October.
While the opposition has strongly foreshadowed it will vote down the controversial proposal, citing the $170 million cost and impacts on LGBT people, it will not confirm its stance before the next parliamentary sitting week.
In a press conference on Tuesday after a community forum on marriage, Mr Shorten was questioned over the strategy which keeps the policy in limbo.
The Opposition Leader rejected that he was delaying a decision amid "emotional torment" and running a narrow consultation process within his own party and community groups opposed to the plebiscite.
"Malcolm Turnbull presented legislation to the Parliament last week. We are actually interested in the views of the community," Mr Shorten said.
"That is why we have been meeting with leaders representing plenty of groups in the lesbian and the transgender, in the gay communities right across Australia. I think it is courteous and respectful to talk to people and hear their views."
Mr Shorten said he had also met with community mental health services and would be consulting leaders of religious institutions.
The Labor caucus is due finalise the party's position on the plebiscite in their first meeting upon Parliament's return in three weeks. Their leader is expected to recommend they vote against it.
Mr Shorten was asked why he wasn't making a decision when he was insisting the Prime Minister "show leadership on this matter and make a decision".
"You are not making a decision for weeks essentially on this whole matter, allowing it to drag out. You are doing that for political purposes, aren't you? Just to have the PM on toast? Why don't you make a decision?" they asked.
The Labor leader responded that he "loved the question because it goes to the heart of the matter" and that "this whole thing has become a circus".
"Why does Mr Malcolm Turnbull want to drag this issue out to February next year when we can have a vote next week in Parliament?" Mr Shorten said.
"Let's get on with this, have a vote next week when the Parliament sits. You're right, what is the case to drag this debate out, have kids, their parents' relationships, analysed, dissected on taxpayer funded campaigns."
The government has been sending mixed messages on whether it is willing to compromise on the plebiscite, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggesting as much on Friday before a spokeswoman clarified that there would be no changes to the plebiscite policy, its question or public funding.
On the weekend Attorney-General George Brandis again talked up the prospect of negotiation with Labor on the issue.
The Greens and the Nick Xenophon team have confirmed they will vote down the legislation, favouring a free parliamentary vote, meaning its fate rests with Labor. Holding 30 seats in the 76-seat Senate, the government needs another nine votes to pass legislation.
