Gay Liberal MP Tim Wilson has taken Bill Shorten to task over comments the Labor leader made which linked a planned same-sex marriage plebiscite to youth suicide.
While such lines may sound good in a political pointscoring war, it demonstrated a failure to understand the issue and the responsibility Mr Shorten carried with his office, Mr Wilson said.
"Suicide is not a political plaything. It's serious," he wrote in The Australian on Thursday.
In a speech to parliament last week, Mr Shorten said a no campaign would be an emotional torment for gay teenagers.
"And if one child commits suicide over the plebiscite, then that is one too many."
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Mr Wilson said parliamentarians should always be mindful that their words have a special influence on the tone of the debate of the country.
The arguments for a change in the law were strong and focus around a society built on commitment and mutual support.
"That is where the debate should be focused, not feeding anxiety, anger and threats."
