Pauline Hanson supports same-sex marriage plebiscite, not worried about 'offending' people

Senator Pauline Hanson has thrown her support behind the government’s proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite.

Appearing on the TODAY Show this morning, the One Nation politician said all Australians should have the right to vote on the issue.

"I think it shouldn’t just come down to a matter of what 226 people decide how our society (looks) and how it should be," Ms Hanson told the show’s co-host Karl Stefanovic.

"Every Australian should have a say on this matter."

Ms Hanson laughed when Stefanovic suggested that anti-marriage equality advertising, in the lead-up to the plebiscite, could negatively affect young people struggling with their sexuality.

"I am so over not debating issues because you’re worried about offending this one, or upsetting that one, that’s why our country is in one hell of a bloody mess," Ms Hanson said.

"What about the people who are struggling with it, who don’t agree with same-sex marriage?"

Yesterday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull accused Opposition Leader Bill Shorten of "playing politics" with the lives of gay people.

Mr Shorten introduced a same-sex marriage bill into parliament on Monday in a bid to prevent the plebiscite from going ahead.

"A plebiscite would represent a fundamental failure of this parliament to do its job," Mr Shorten said.

If the vote goes ahead on the planned date February 11, Australians will be asked "Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?"