The passage of the bill through the upper house came two weeks after a majority ‘yes’ result was recorded in the national postal survey on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

Conservative senators attempted to move amendments to Liberal Senator Dean Smith’s same-sex marriage bill.

These would have enshrined in the legislation religious protections for certain Australians who wished to discriminate against same-sex couples seeking to get married.

The amendments were roundly voted down, which Mr Croome welcomed wholeheartedly.

Mr Croome has been an outspoken proponent of gay rights since the 1980s and has campaigned for marriage equality for the past 13 years.

“It was an emotional moment for me to witness the Senate vote through this legislation,” he said.

“I’m particularly glad that the Senate voted down proposed amendments that would’ve served only to further enshrine discrimination against LGBTI people.”

Mr Croome called on the House of Representatives, which is not sitting again until Monday, to pass the bill, enacting it as law before Christmas.

Senator Smith’s same-sex marriage bill was supported by Tasmanian senators David Bushby, Jonathon Duniam, Carol Brown, Anne Urquhart, Lisa Singh, Catryna Bilyk, Nick McKim and Peter Whish-Wilson.

The only Tasmanian senators who opposed the bill were Liberal Senator Eric Abetz and Labor Senator Helen Polley.

Coalition for Marriage spokesman Lyle Shelton said the perceived lack of religious protections in the bill represented “a betrayal of promises”.

“In recent days, we have seen too many senators once again prioritise politics over the people,” Mr Shelton said.