The NSW Parliamentary Working Group on Marriage Equality has pointed out that by definition, a civil celebrant performs marriages on behalf of the state, "thus providing a government service".

The working group – consisting of Nationals, Liberal, Labor and Greens politicians – believe “there ought not to be any discrimination by celebrants in civil marriages under the state, regardless of the celebrant's personal, moral or religious beliefs”. 

The proposal gives currently registered celebrants the right to refuse, but anyone wanting to become a celebrant must agree to marry same-sex couples.

Religious ministers could also opt out. 

Wagga celebrant John Beattie has no problems marrying a gay couple, but defended the right of his colleagues to refuse to participate in same-sex marriages.

"I certainly won't be rejecting anybody on a same-sex basis, but I know some celebrants certainly would have a problem with it and I feel they need to go with their own personal beliefs,” Mr Beattie said.

“Some (celebrants) will have a religious or personal attitude that conflicts with the proposed laws and provisions should be made for them.

“But if the law provides for same-sex marriage, it would be discriminatory to reject a couple on same-sex grounds.”

Mr Beattie, who only became a celebrant in 2015, said the only difference between traditional marriage and same-sex marriage would be the language. 

“You couldn't use term husbands and wife in same-sex marriage, but otherwise it wouldn't be any different,” he said.

“I think there's a general feeling among population that time has come and certainly I would welcome it.

“It's happening all around the world and Australia needs to hop on board and embrace it.”

In a recent poll, 87 per cent of Australian Federation of Civil Celebrants members supported marriage equality.