Malcolm Turnbull has sunk to new lows in opinion polls. Picture: Kym Smith

The 45th Parliament stated today with a church service in Canberra and it was during a press conference outside the service when Mr Shorten was confronted by Reverend Ian Powell, from St Matthews Anglican Church in Wanniassa, who had a bit to say on same sex marriage.

Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop at an Ecumenical Service at St Andrews Church in Canberra. Picture: AAP Image/Mick TsikasSource:AAP

Reverend Powell appeared to disagree with his belief a marriage equality plebiscite would subject same-sex attracted people to hate.

“People of faith can be opposed to marriage equality, but some people who object to marriage equality do have homophobic attitudes,” Mr Shorten said.

TURNBULL LOSES SUPPORT

Support for the Coalition has plunged in the first Newspoll since the election.

As the 45th federal parliament is sworn in, satisfaction levels with the Prime Minister have dropped six percentage points to 34 per cent since the July 2 election.

This is the lowest level since Mr Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott from office.

The Australian’s poll of 1696 voters also shows the government and Labor are deadlocked at 50-50, with the Coalition returning to parliament with a primary vote of 41 per cent — down from 42.1 per cent on election day.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was confronted by a man outside the church service. Picture: Kym SmithSource:News Corp Australia

This makes the Turnbull government just the third government in the past three decades to have suffered a fall in its primary vote in the first poll following an election.

Dissatisfaction with Mr Turnbull has reached its highest point of 52 per cent, up five points since July 2.

His net satisfaction rating of -18 points is worse than the same measure for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who scored -14 points.

But the Prime Minister refused to be drawn on the Newspoll.

When asked about it by reporters outside the church service he said: “This is a beautiful service. A time when all the parties come together. A time I think when we are reminded of our solemn duty to the Australian people and of the many things we have in common not least of which is a shared commitment to advance Australia.”

Labor’s support rose to 36 per cent, which is still low but is an improvement on the 34.7 per cent posted at the July 2 poll.

Malcolm Turnbull looks to have tuned out while Bill Shorten speaks during the Welcome to Country Ceremony for the start of the 45th Parliament. Picture: Gary RamageSource:News Corp Australia

Support for the Greens has slipped to nine per cent from 10.2 per cent at the election, but has increased from 13 to 14 per cent for other parties and independents.

At the election, the Coalition won 50.4 per cent of the two-party vote. The ALP garnered 49.6 per cent.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce played down the poll result.

“You will drive yourself crazy if you start worrying about polls at the start of the political term,” he told the Nine Network this morning.

The federal government was busy getting stuck into it and making the hard decisions to take the nation forward, Mr Joyce said.

Ngunnawal Leader Tina Brown welcomes everyone back to Parliament. Picture: Gary RamageSource:News Corp Australia

PARLIAMENT RE-OPENS

Following a Welcome to Country ceremony by Tina Brown, Mr Turnbull paid tribute to the first indigenous MP Neville Bonner and spoke of the need to “forge a common way” forward.

“Our Parliament is charged with the responsibility of working with our First Australians as partners and supporters, closing the gap, ensuring that those who were first will no longer be last,” he said.

Mr Shorten discussed the need to raise the standard of living for all Australians.

“Our duty in this 45th Parliament is to gather Australians in, to leave no-one behind because those who would make fairness too difficult make the splintering of our society too easy,” he said.

But while the opening got underway a coalition of indigenous lobby groups gathered on the front lawn of Parliament House, calling on Mr Turnbull to properly engage with Australia’s first people within the first 100 days of the new parliament.

MORRISON AND HADLEY CLASH ON AIR

Treasurer Scott Morrison and radio presenter Ray Hadley have clashed over the parliamentary sitting calendar.

In their regularly weekly radio interview, 2GB’s Mr Hadley took issue with the fact there are only 27 sitting days left this calendar year.

“You’re assuming that nothing happens between sitting weeks and I know you don’t think that,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said parliamentarians worked “every single day”.

HADLEY: “You might work every single day but I am sure there are a lot of bludgers and leaners inside the Federal Parliament who are delighted to go home every Thursday, have a long weekend, and come back on Sunday night or Monday morning.”

MORRISON: “Ray, I don’t think that’s a very fair criticism at all. Name who they are.”

Mr Morrison said the Parliament would sit as often as necessary to pass legislation, claiming no Bill would fail because of a shortage of sitting time.

“I think that’s a bit cheap, mate,” he said.

“Ray, you know a lot of politicians and you know they work hard.”