After months of dismissing questions about the issue as rumour and gossip, the Prime Minister has conceded Hillsong founder Brian Houston's name was put forward to attend a state dinner with United States President Donald Trump last year.

Key points: The Wall Street Journal first reported the Prime Minister wanted the Hillsong founder invited to the White House

The Wall Street Journal first reported the Prime Minister wanted the Hillsong founder invited to the White House Scott Morrison has repeatedly dismissed questions on the issue as rumour and "gossip"

Scott Morrison has repeatedly dismissed questions on the issue as rumour and "gossip" He has now conceded Mr Houston's name was put forward, even though he was not given an invitation

The glamorous event at the White House last September was attended by Mr Morrison, his wife Jenny and a number of other Australian dignitaries.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report Scott Morrison wanted Mr Houston to be with him at some events during an official visit to the US, including the dinner.

"It's all gossip," he told reporters at the time.

On Tuesday, Mr Morrison said he had known Mr Houston for a "long time", and argued Hillsong had a "very big network of churches all across the United States".

For the first time, he confirmed to Sydney radio station 2GB that Australia had placed Mr Houston's name on a suggested invite list.

"On that occasion, we put forward a number of names — that included Brian — but not everybody whose name was put forward was invited," he said.

"People have chased this round and round for months."

At the time, the Prime Minister's office said invitations were issued at the discretion of the hosts, and Mr Houston did not attend any of the events.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse criticised Mr Houston, arguing he had failed a victim of abuse by failing to report allegations of abuse against his father.

In early October last year, Mr Morrison refused to answer questions on the Wall Street Journal report on Sky News.

"There's one un-published source," he said.

"If people have an established source who's prepared to put their names to things, well, that's a different matter."

Hillsong church leader Brian Houston was criticised by the royal institution into child sexual abuse. ( AAP: Paul Miller )

Later that month, the Opposition questioned the Prime Minister on the issue during Question Time.

Mr Morrison was quick to turn the matter into an attack on New South Wales Labor, after allegations of improper donations were raised at the state anti-corruption commission.

"The invitations to the White House dinner were issued by the White House," he told Parliament.

"I think the Australian people are more interested in who Jamie Clements was inviting to lunch and who he was inviting to dinner, on behalf of the New South Wales Labor Party, and how much cash was in the wine bag."

In December, Mr Morrison was asked again in Parliament, and suggested Labor was engaging in "smears, accusations and even attacking people's faith".

When pushed on Tuesday on why he avoided questions about the reports for so long, Mr Morrison conceded he could have been more upfront.

"Look, at the time I could have answered the question differently," he told the ABC's 7.30 program.

"But honestly, at the end of the day, it was not a significant matter."

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said Tuesday's confirmation brought the Prime Minister's integrity into question.

"Ultimately, the Prime Minister is not a straight shooter, that's the only thing you can make from this," he said.

"When he was asked about this a few months ago he said that this was just gossip, now he accepts that this is actually true.

"So back then, when he said it was just gossip, he wasn't being straight with the Australian people."