Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he will accept the result of the gay marriage national vote “wholeheartedly”.

Mr Abbott plans to hold a referendum or plebiscite in the next term of office to take the national pulse on allowing same-sex marriage.

• Coalition bounces back in poll
• Joe Hockey proposes income tax cuts

Asked how he would respond to a vote in favour of change, Mr Abbott told 2UE radio on Monday: “Obviously I will accept it wholeheartedly because that’s what you do in a democracy

“When the people speak on something which has rightly and properly been entrusted to them, you respect the decision.”

He said he wasn’t opposed to social change.

“I don’t say there can’t be change,” Mr Abbott said.

“There are many things that were taken for granted in previous times which we no longer take for granted.

“It’s to our credit we think those things are dead wrong.”