On World Mental Health Day, the Greens have urged the Turnbull government to consider the potential harm of a marriage equality plebiscite.

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Senator Janet Rice said the government should be supporting people’s mental health rather than creating a political situation that jeopardises it.

“World Mental Health Day is an opportunity time to foster good mental health, not put it at risk,” Senator Rice said.

“The Prime Minister must recognise that government policy must not be detrimental to people’s mental wellbeing, starting with his party’s proposed plebiscite.

“From trolls on social media to homophobic pamphlets being handed out at the footy, we’re already seeing the potential for damage in the marriage equality debate.

Senator Rice said there was no point to the government’s plebiscite plan as it was already clear that a majority of Australians and a majority of parliamentarians supported change.

“All a plebiscite would do would give this hatred a $200 million megaphone, telling us what we already know – that the majority of Australians support marriage equality.”

The Greens repeated their call for the Prime Minister to show leadership on the issue and for the Labor party to make a clear decision on whether or not the will knock down the plebiscite legislation.

“The Greens call on Malcolm Turnbull to have the courage to stand up to his extreme back bench,” said Senator Rice.

“Labor have a responsibility to stop drawing this out and reject a plebiscite once and for all.

The Labor party is set to discuss their position on the plebiscite legislation at tomorrow’s caucus meeting. Opposition leader Bill Shorten and several prominent Labor members have indicated that their party will not be supporting the plebiscite legislation.

Last week Attorney General George Brandis met with LGBTI community groups and suggested that the government might consider adding extra funding to mental health services.

The suggestion of additional funding comes as mental health experts flagged their concern over the tone of the marriage equality debate.

OIP Staff