Don't rush - is the advice of Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Australian gay couples who want to avail of the same-sex marriage law approved on Tuesday by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

He also told them to wait for the decision of the High Court after the federal government lodged a legal challenge to the ACT law on Wednesday on the ground that it is not consistent with the Commonwealth Marriage Act.

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The High Court received the writ of summons lodged by the federal government and scheduled directions hearing next week since the government sought expedited hearing so that gays and lesbians who want to tie the knot would not be distressed to be told later that their same-sex marriage is not legal.

The PM stressed the legal challenge is for purely legal reasons and not based on moral questions. Mr Abbott had earlier said that if his lesbian sister, Christine Forster, would marry her girlfriend in Sydney if the court would allow same-sex marriage, he would attend the rite as brother of one of the couple, but it does not mean he is in favour of same-sex marriages.

However, ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell belittled Mr Abbott's appeal for gay pairs to postpone their wedding in the capital territory until the High Court rules on the legal challenge.

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"I would say to the Prime Minister and to Senator Brandis that their comments are patronizing in the extreme ... The only people causing stress to same-sex couples are the Prime Minister and [Federal Attorney-General] Senator [George] Brandis."

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