Former Katter’s Australian Party candidate Tess Corbett compared gay and lesbian people to paedophiles.

In 2013, a former candidate for the Federal seat of Wannon in western Victoria, Tess Corbett, told a western Victorian newspaper that she didn’t want to see gays, lesbians, or paedophiles working in kindergartens.

When asked to clarify her statement, Corbett went on to tell reporters that paedophiles would be ‘next in line for equal rights.

Now, her homophobic comments have her facing contempt of court charges.

Shortly after Corbett made headlines with the comments, Gary Burns, a campaigner for Sydney anti-discrimination, filed a complaint with the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

After reviewing the comments, Corbett was ordered to place a public apology in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Failing to issue a public apology, Mr Burns has issued contempt of court proceedings against Corbett.

Mr Burns said, “It will send a very clear message to any defendant who refuses to comply with an order by the civil and administrative tribunal. In Australia in 2016, it’s not okay to suggest that homosexual men and women are child molesters and criminals. These kinds of statements impact the lives of gay and lesbian Australians…and people shouldn’t use these kinds of pernicious statements in the public arena, because they do cause harm.”

The Supreme Court will hear the case in February.