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A former political candidate who sparked national outrage after comparing homosexuality to paedophilia has revealed she will try again for the federal seat of Wannon — this time for Fred Nile’s splinter political party Australian Christians.
Lake Bolac woman Tess Corbett had few words when contacted by The Standard yesterday, saying only that the party “approached me” following her resignation from Katter’s Australia Party after suggesting gays and paedophiles were in the “same category as moral issues”.
Ms Corbett asked how The Standard learnt she was a candidate but refused to be drawn into an interview.
She did not retract her earlier comments, instead blamed the media for misrepresenting her views.
“The way they were reported and said, it was not my words,” Ms Corbett said.
She declined to answer any further questions.
However, Australian Christians National Director Ray Moran defended his party’s decision to recruit Ms Corbett, describing her as an ideal candidate for the seat of Wannon.
“She meets the criteria and she’s a strong Christian. She supports traditional values,” Mr Moran said.
He said the party’s senate candidate Vickie Janson had recruited Ms Corbett four months ago.
Asked about Ms Corbett’s comments earlier this year, Mr Moran said “we tend to take that with a grain of salt”.
“Having met with Tess, she was misrepresented in what she said.”
When The Standard first interviewed Ms Corbett in January she cited agricultural issues, such as foreign ownership of Australian farms and the impact of overseas workers as being behind her decision to run.
Australian Christians is the sister party of the Christian Democratic Party led by controversial and outspoken Reverend Fred Nile.
It says its policies are based on “Biblical principles” including:
* Opposition to same-sex marriage;
* A pro-life policy, saying Australia “needs to find a better way to deal with un-planned pregnancies” rather than abortion;
* IVF treatment for married couples only.
* A ban on “morally wrong” stem cell research.
Labor’s Mick Barling and the Green’s Tim Emanuelle are the only candidates that have emerged to challenge sitting Coalition MP Dan Tehan.
Katter’s Australia Party and Palmer’s United Australia Party are seeking local candidates, while the Nationals will not challenge here.