Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Australian of the Year and mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry has warned that a plebiscite on same-sex marriage is a dangerous thing to do that will harm people's mental health. What is the Prime Minister's response to Professor McGorry's warning last week?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a very high regard for Professor McGorry and I have discussed this matter with him directly.

Mr Watts interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gellibrand will not interject.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not want to go into the details of a private conversation with him, but I am quite satisfied that the Australian people are capable of having a civil discussion on this issue and resolving it. I recognise and have some understanding of the additional mental stress and the prevalence of mental illness among the gay community. There is no issue about that. We understand that. The member for Sydney and I both understand that, in particular, given our electorates. We have both been involved with organisations that seek to address it and indeed have supported them, I might say, very collaboratively. We do understand that, but nonetheless this is a big issue. It is a big issue that concerns all Australians, and we believe that all Australians should be entitled to have their say.

We took the plebiscite proposal to the election as part of our platform. We won the election. It is a perfectly democratic process. The honourable members opposite should remember that it was not so long ago that their own leader, the member for Maribyrnong, supported a plebiscite. He advocated a plebiscite. So what has changed?

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Sydney she has been warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The only thing that has changed is the politics. The Labor Party is not so much interested in same-sex couples being able to marry as they are in wringing every ounce of political gain out of this debate.