Asia would view Australia as “decadent” if the country were to embrace same-sex marriage, Mr Joyce said on national television.

The frontbencher, who opposes changing the Marriage Act, was responding to claims made by his senate colleague Eric Abetz that no Asian country has gone down the path of redefining marriage.

Mr Joyce told ABC TV yesterday that there were judgments made in Asia about Australia – “whether we like it or not”.

"I don't think if you go and pass a piece of legislation and say a diamond is a square makes diamonds squares — they're two different things," he said.

"It's not making a value judgement about either."