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Australians have been left baffled after an MP bizarrely made a comment about crocodiles during an interview on same-sex marriage.

Veteran MP Bob Katter campaigned against same-sex marriage before last week’s referendum, which saw an overwhelming majority vote in favour.

The Independent politician, who once claimed that gay people did not live in his Queensland electorate, had since appeared to soften his stance.

Mr Katter said: “I mean, you know, people are entitled to their sexual proclivities. Let there be a thousand blossoms bloom, as far as I am concerned.”

However he suddenly became serious and furrowed his brow, adding: “But I ain't spending any time on it because in the meantime, every three months, a person is torn to pieces by a crocodile in north Queensland.”

A clip of him making the comment has been shared thousands of times on social media.

Reporter Vince Rugari said on Twitter: “If someone from another country asked me to describe Bob Katter I would just send them this video.”

Writer and broadcaster Jess McGuire commented: “I actually can't stop watching a roaring with laughter."

TIME.com editor Dan Stewart said: “I think this clip is about to give Australia's Bob Katter a *much* higher global profile.”

Last week Australia voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage by 61.6 per cent to 38.4 per cent.

With a turnout of 79.5 per cent, the vote had a bigger turnout than the Brexit referendum and US presidential election.

Parliament will now vote by December on legislation to lift the ban on same-sex marriages.

Mr Katter's district was one of 17 to vote against legalising same-sex marriage in the referendum.

Australia's vote followed similar ballots which have been held in three European countries, with Slovenia voting no, Ireland voting yes and a poll in Slovakia failing due to low turnout.