End marriage 'discrimination': AMA chief

The peak doctors' group says allowing same-sex marriage would lead to better mental health of gay and lesbian people.

Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon said he had no view on whether the law should be changed via a plebiscite or by parliamentarians, but discrimination in the Marriage Act should end as soon as possible.

"We know from statistics that gay and lesbian people have high rates of mental health problems. We will not countenance any form of discrimination - discrimination is immoral, discrimination is unhealthy," Dr Gannon told reporters in Canberra on Monday.