Advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) will launch a campaign against public funding for the marriage equality plebiscite, saying taxpayers should not fuel a "no" campaign.
The potential allocation of public funds for the running of a "yes" and "no" campaign has proved an early source of contention between the two camps.
AME's position is that no funds should be provided to either side, while the Australian Christian Lobby has called for each to receive approximately $11.9 million.
AME chair Alex Greenwich told BuzzFeed News he did not want to see taxpayer funds going towards a "no" campaign that many LGBTI people fear could be hurtful.
"There is understandable strong community concern about if we have a plebiscite, the type of campaign opponents will run," he said.
"I think it's really important that that campaign isn't fuelled by taxpayer money."
The digital-focused campaign against public funding, to be launched Tuesday, will include a petition and discussions with MPs of all political stripes.
"It's quite clear that people in the opposition and the Greens have pointed out that they don't want to see taxpayer funds going into the type of campaign opponents have come up with," Greenwich said.
The Australian Christian Lobby has called for the same amount of funding for each side as was provided in the 1999 referendum on Australia becoming a republic.
Each side received $7.5 million (AUD) in 1999, which in today's dollars would amount to just under $11.9 million each.
"There's definitely an expectation that there would be public funding of equal amounts," managing director Lyle Shelton told Fairfax Media earlier last week.
The campaign will be the first time AME has engaged in public detail-oriented campaigning around the plebiscite. Previously, their focus has been on calling for the national vote to be canned.
However, a spokesperson for AME told BuzzFeed News it should not be taken as a sign they are giving up on advocating for a free vote.
"We're not walking away from a free vote, but we have to prepare for every scenario," the spokesperson said.
"The government has indicated it is moving towards a plebiscite. That's why we're calling on the government to ensure taxpayers aren't left with a further bill."
Although the plebiscite has been in planning stages for some months, BuzzFeed News understands the campaign against public funding is just beginning now as prior to the election, AME was focused on campaigning for a free vote.
The group would like to see any extra funds instead go towards support services for the LGBTI community during the plebiscite.
Attorney general George Brandis is currently preparing a cabinet submission for the plebiscite-enabling legislation, which is expected to be presented in the coming weeks.
BuzzFeed News understands that while consultations occurred earlier this year, neither side has met with the attorney general's office to discuss the plebiscite since the election.