Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull refuses to endorse same-sex marriage pledge
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Mr Turnbull's office, however, distanced itself from that second point just hours later.
A spokeswoman for Mr Turnbull said only that the government was committed to holding the plebiscite "as soon after the election as can be done".
Labor leader Bill Shorten said the comments showed the government's "chaos and division" had reached new heights.
"This is a new land speed record for a broken promise – made over breakfast and gone before dinner," he said.
The Australian Electoral Commission last year warned a public vote on same-sex marriage should not be rushed.
And if an election is held in October, as Mr Turnbull has suggested in previous statements, it is difficult to see how Senator Brandis' timetable could be met.
In verbal evidence to a Senate inquiry last year into a popular vote on marriage laws, Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said three months would be required to organise a public vote
