Ireland referendum a lesson: Shorten

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has warned the Irish experience provides a lesson to Australia about the dangers of a plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

"I have seen the experience and spoken to people who campaigned in the Irish referendum," Mr Shorten told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.

He accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of surrendering to the right wing of the Liberal Party, describing him as a "weak fellow".