Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will not attend this year's Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade, saying he has "other matters" to attend to interstate.

The Mardi Gras' governing body last year passed a motion declaring Mr Turnbull was not welcome at the annual parade, but overturned it following internal division.

Opposition to the Prime Minister's attendance stemmed from his backing of a national plebiscite on same-sex marriage, which the majority of the gay and lesbian community opposes in favour of a free parliamentary vote on the issue.

Along with his wife Lucy, Mr Turnbull has been a regular attendee of the Mardi Gras parade, including last year when he became the first sitting prime minister to attend the celebration.