The prime minister is urging restraint among coalition critics of the Safe Schools program, ahead of the government's response to a review of the national anti-bullying scheme.
The initiative, aimed at addressing bullying, as well as sexual and gender diversity issues among students, is being debated in the parliament, amid calls from some coalition MPs for funding to the program to be axed.
Queensland Liberal-National MP George Christensen says he's collecting signatures for a letter calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the Safe Schools program.
Mr Christensen says he hopes to get more signatories from the House of Representatives and the Senate before handing the letter to the prime minister.
"What we're asking for is for the program funding to be suspended pending a House of Representative inquiry where parents can make submissions, where concerned citizens can make submissions, schools can make submissions, and where we look at the full scope of the program, including past resources that were officially produced with the government funding -- that wasn't considered as part of the review -- where we can look at recommended resources -- that wasn't part of the review -- and where we can look at all of the lessons and experiences of schools that have actually brought it on."
The former prime minister Tony Abbott, whose government provided funding to the Labor-initiated scheme, is believed to be among up to three dozen coalition MPs who have signed the letter.
He's never publicly criticised Safe Schools, although some of his colleagues claim the program has a radical ideological agenda - one MP even saying it includes material that is extreme and aimed at sexualising children.
George Christensen again.
"It's trying put queer gender theory into schools. And I think that that needs to stay in universities. If you want an anti-bullying program, have an anti-bullying program, but don't bring queer gender theory into schools."
In parliament, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attempted to subdue the sentiment.
"I address this to every member of this House - all members expressing views on this program should choose their words carefully, and remember the impact their statements can have on young people and their families."
The group of backbenchers opposed to Safe Schools wants Commonwealth funding suspended from the voluntary program.
It apparently claims an independent government review failed to examine all the materials and resources it recommends to students.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham says he understands some of the concerns.
"There is a reason as to why some of the criticism has come about now in relation to the release of some of those resources at around this time, and their potential use for the first time ever in this school year. That's why we're taking and have taken a close look at those resources in particular and Professor Bill Lowden, Emeritus Professor of Education from the University of Western Australia, who's eminently qualified has done an outstanding job of looking carefully at the content of each resource, assessing it against the national curriculum, considering whether it is age appropriate."
But his predecessor Christopher Pyne is one in a number of coalition MPs to have spoken up in defence of Safe Schools.
"They were directed at a younger audience, and that bullying at schools is unacceptable. And I didn't want to bring my 48-year-old attitude to these materials because I had children of my own and if they were being bullied at school I would want people to be able to get the support that they need."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten, meanwhile, says some Liberal MPs are using the issue to try and destabilise Malcolm Turnbull's government.
"First of all, I just think it's weird that some people in the Liberal party are so obsessed with other peoples' sexuality. And at another level altogether, this petition is a ginger group - it's the Tony Abbott supporters undermining Mr Turnbull. So there's a lot going on here. I'm sure Mr Turnbull is not greatly comfortable with the debate that's raging in his party. But as we know he doesn't control his party."
The Safe Schools program is presented in around 500 schools nationwide.
That number has grown since coalition MPs first launched an open campaign against the scheme.
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