Labor would appoint a champion of gay and lesbian rights if it wins government, in a move that further highlights Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's adherence to his predecessor Tony Abbott's same-sex marriage stance.

Labor on Saturday announced it would appoint a full time LGBTI Discrimination Commissioner to the Australian Human Rights Commission to "help build a more inclusive Australia". The role would cost $1.4 million over four years.

"Great progress has been made in the fight for a fairer Australia but there is still more to be done," the party said in a statement.

"Sadly, LGBTI Australians continue to face discrimination in many areas of life and many feel they need to hide their sexuality for fear of violence and discrimination."

If elected, Labor would introduce legislation for marriage equality within the first 100 days of the new Parliament.

Mr Turnbull, whose Sydney Wentworth electorate contains a high proportion of gay and lesbian voters, has pledged to hold a same-sex marriage plebiscite, rather than asking Parliament to legislate the change directly.

Prior to his successful leadership coup, Mr Turnbull assured the right wing of his party he would retain the same-sex marriage policies of Mr Abbott.

This came despite Mr Turnbull's personal support for marriage reform. Mr Turnbull's surrender to the terms of his party's conservatives has been interpreted as a trigger for the erosion of his popular support.

Speaking at a Rainbow Labor campaign launch in Melbourne, Labor senator Penny Wong said the commissioner would "ensure lesbians, gays, transgender and intersex Australians live in a safer, more secure and more inclusive society".

"The Marriage Act contains one of the last forms of legislated discrimination in Australia ... it's time it changed," she said.

Senator Wong said a plebiscite on marriage equality would be "harmful, hurtful and divisive".

The taxpayer-funded plebiscite would cost an estimated $160 million.

Labor's LGBTI commissioner would also aim to eliminate discrimination from schools, workplaces and communities.

The party said the Human Rights Commission had noted research showing the rate of suicide for LGBT people was 3.5 to 14 times higher than the general population, and LGBT people were far more likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety.

Australian Marriage Equality spokeswoman Shirleene Robinson welcomed Labor's ongoing commitment to LGBTI rights, including the commissioner proposal.

At a Senate estimates hearing this month, Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs said jobs would be lost if the organisation's funding was not increased.

Professor Triggs said the commission did not have enough funding to meet its statutory obligations, making it difficult to resolve an increasing number of complaints.

Fairfax Media has compiled this list of potential candidates for a LGBTI commissioner, should Labor win office:

Michael Kirby

The former High Court judge is a strong supporter of same-sex rights. In 2012 he told a Senate inquiry into gay marriage that despite the heights he reached in his career, he remained a second-class citizen because he cannot marry his partner.

Catherine McGregor

The transgender former senior military officer was named a 2016 Australian of the Year finalist for her work as a gender diversity advocate. She wanted to make this year one in which she communicates "the common humanity of transgendered people to the rest of Australia".

Louise Pratt

A former WA Labor senator who is now a political consultant, Ms Pratt is one of the few open lesbians to be elected to Parliament. Speaking in support of same-sex marriage in 2012, she referred to her transgender partner and said "we already exist... all we ask is that you stop pretending that we don't".

Bob Brown

The former Greens leader was the first openly gay leader of an Australian political party. Mr Brown has previously slammed both sides of politics for the lack of progress on same-sex marriage. He supports the push for marriage reform but in 2010 said he felt no duty to marry his long-time partner.

Alex Greenwich

At just 35, the independent NSW MP for Sydney is one of Australia's most prominent LGBTI campaigners. Presently co-chair of Australian Marriage Equality, Mr Greenwich married his male partner in Argentina in 2012. He believes social media should be used to educate and inform, rather than simply attack or defend.

- with AAP

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