Maverick Australian independent MP Bob Katter has nominated a pro-marriage equality candidate in a surprise move just weeks after having to dump two candidates for his new Katter’s Australia Party after they made extreme homophobic statements.

Katter is personally opposed to same-sex marriage and has called LGBT rights a non-issue in Australia compared to the needs of farmers and people in rural areas but still nominated 29 year old theater director Steven Bailey to run for the Australian Senate in the Australian Capital Territory.

Katter's Australia Party (KAP) has dismissed a candidate who tweeted that he didn't want gay people to teach his children.

Bernard Gaynor made the comment on Twitter on Wednesday and reiterated it on a blogpost, where he said 'as a Christian, the homosexual lifestyle is immoral'.

Another Katter's Australian Party candidate has been accused of homophobia after tweeting 'I wouldn't let a gay person teach my children and I'm not afraid to say it'.

Senate nominee Bernard Gaynor tweeted the offensive statement yesterday. 

In a blogpost expanding on the tweet Gaynor said he believed Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott would support his position.

A political candidate in Australia has linked gay and lesbian people with pedophiles.

'Pedophiles will be next in line to be recognized in the same way as gays and lesbians and get rights,' said Tess Corbett in an interview with local newspaper The Hamilton Spectator, The Age reports.

High profile Australian supporters of marriage equality have joined forces to encourage people to talk about the importance of letting gays and lesbians marry when they spend time with family this holiday season.

A new online video campaign by advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) features Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, Labor Senator Louise Pratt, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Australian Medical Association head Professor Kerryn Phelps, independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and NSW Greens Legislative Council member Cate Faehrmann.

Mainstream talk radio host Neil Mitchell has agreed to join community gay radio station Joy 94.9 for a special live outdoor joint broadcast tomorrow about same-sex attracted youth suicide in Australia.

Mitchell has a morning show on 3AW, a popular national commercial radio station and the joint broadcast will spread discussion about youth suicide far beyond the gay community.

Loree Rudd, the sister of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, has announced her support for a controversial anti gay marriage advert released by the socially conservative Katter’s Australia Party. 

Australian campaign group Get Up have recorded a response to an anti gay marriage advert aimed at voters in Queensland's upcoming state election.

The response features Carl Katter, the half-brother of the leader of Katter's Australia Party who were responsible for the advert that suggests gay marriage is opposed to 'family values'.

Right-wing political party, Katter’s Australian Party, has received hate mail, criticism from other parties and accusations of ‘grubby tactics’ from the party leader’s gay half-brother after airing an anti-gay marriage advert.