Bob Katter
Bob Katter said he would focus on crocodile deaths rather than marriage equality. Twitter

An Australian MP will put gay marriage to the back of his mind while he focuses on a more pressing issue: catching killer crocodiles.

Last week introduced a bill that would lead to historic legislation paving the way for marriage equality. It came after more than 61% of the country voted to change the law and allow same-sex marriage.

But with the eyes of history watching Australia and its politicians, one MP has bigger things on his mind.

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Speaking after the legislation was announced, North Queensland MP Bob Katter said he had better ways to spend his time.

"I mean, y'know, people are entitled to their sexual proclivities. Let there be a thousand blossoms bloom, as far as I'm concerned," he said.

"But I ain't spendin' any time on it, because in the mean time, every three months, a person is torn to pieces by a crocodile in North Queensland."

It's not the first time has Katter talked down LGBT rights. Speaking at a Christian rally in 2001, Katter said: "Truly this proposition deserves to be laughed at and ridiculed."

Earlier this year he told Sky News that the word "gay" had been stolen. "I have a very clear idea of what is going on here: the homosexuals in Australia, they took the word 'gay'."

In 2011, the Australian Human Rights Committee estimated up to 11% of the population could be gay while in the Northern Territory, the Australian state best known for its crocodiles, 14 people died from crocodile attacks between 2005 and 2014.