Toowoomba doctor David van Gend, who runs the anti-LGBTI group the Australian Marriage Forum, wrote a piece for Online Opinion Monday under the headline "Playing the suicide card".

He singled out Greens leader Richard Di Natale, saying the Greens' argument that the plebiscite would hurt LGBT youth is a "shameful example of political blackmail" and accused Di Natale of driving youth to suicide.

"There is a dangerous power of suggestion when politicians tell LGBT youth they are victims of society’s homophobia and deserve to be suicidal," said van Gend.



"We don’t even know if LGBT people suicide more than other people."

Kerryn Phelps, a former head of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), told BuzzFeed News she had "very serious fears" about somebody holding such views and treating LGBT patients.