My mum's gay, says MP criticised for homophobic slur

The Northern Territory politician who admitted to using homophobic slurs towards a gay staffer says he has no problem with homosexual people and has spoken of a family breakdown after his own mother left for another woman. Mr Tollner said the comments to the staffer - who is also the son of a political colleague - were taken out of context and he had "no issue with gay people at all". "I can't see what I am to publicly apologise for. I've been called 10,000 things worse than this, but you accept them in the good humour in which they're delivered." Asked if he supported same-sex marriage, Mr Tollner said he did - but "there are far more important things... of greater priority" for his government to address.

more: My mum's gay, says MP criticised for homophobic slur

The Northern Territory politician who admitted to using homophobic slurs towards a gay staffer says he has no problem with homosexual people and has spoken of a family breakdown after his own mother left for another woman. Mr Tollner said the comments to the staffer - who is also the son of a political colleague - were taken out of context and he had "no issue with gay people at all". "I can't see what I am to publicly apologise for. I've been called 10,000 things worse than this, but you accept them in the good humour in which they're delivered." Asked if he supported same-sex marriage, Mr Tollner said he did - but "there are far more important things... of greater priority" for his government to address.