Elton John has delivered an "up yours" message to Prime Minister John Howard for opposing same-sex marriages.

Elton, in Sydney for the first of three concerts on November 28, 2006, said he was unimpressed with the lack of legislation to protect gay couples in Australia.

Elton and David in December 2005 became one of the first gay couples in England to tie the knot in a civil partnership ceremony. "It was just a commitment I wanted to make because I love him, and vice-versa, and it was just a great day," Sir Elton told the Seven Network.

Asked what he would like to say to Mr Howard about his views on gay marriage, Sir Elton replied: "Up Yours".

It's Mr Howard's second dispute with a high profile rock star this month after he had differences with U2 frontman Bono over Australia's funding for third world countries. The Howard government earlier this year scuttled plans to allow gay marriages in the ACT.

Mr Howard said in June 2006 his government was not "anti-homosexual"."It is not a question of discriminating against them," he said. "It is a question of preserving as an institution in our society marriage as having a special character and if you look at the legislation, what it effectively says, a civil union is not a marriage, but it will be treated for all purposes as being equivalent to a marriage."

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