Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has announced he will attend the 2016 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade next month.

Mr Shorten said he would be delighted to attend the parade with his colleagues and family.

“I’m delighted to be attending this year’s Mardi Gras with my wife, Chloe, our three children, and my Labor party colleagues to show our support for marriage equality,” Shorten said.

Last year high profile politicians including Penny Wong, Tanya Plibersek and Antony Albanese took part in the parade but this will be the first time a leader of a major party has made an appearance.

Mr Shorten said it was time Australia legislated marriage equality and he was attending to show his support. Last month Mr Shorten joined Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at the Midsumma Pride Match in Melbourne.

“Labor does not want to see taxpayer funds going towards funding nasty and negative ‘no’ campaigns against marriage equality,” Mr Shorten said.

“The time has come for marriage equality, the best way for it to happen is through a free vote in the Parliament.

“If Malcolm Turnbull is too gutless to confront the right of his party Labor will introduce a Bill into Parliament within 100 days of being elected to legalise same sex marriages.” Mr Shorten said.

Last month anonymous Liberal MPs warned Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that it would be dangerous for him to attend the Mardi Gras parade. The month long Mardi Gras celebrations are largely held within the Prime Minister’s Wentworth electorate.

In the Rupert Murdock owned Sunday papers columnist Piers Akerman has criticised the Prime Minster for “reaching out to the Mardi Gras marchers” arguing that Mr Turnbull should be focusing more of his time on the countries economic woes. Mr Akerman welcomed the ascension of Barnaby Joyce to the role of Deputy Prime Minister saying Mr Joyce’s conservatism would be a counter balance to the Prime Minister’s views.

OIP Staff, Mardi Gras Parade Image: Hamid Mousa