Greens reverse Fred Nile preference choice

The Australian Greens have given in to community criticism and reversed a decision to preference Fred Nile's party ahead of a gay, indigenous Liberal candidate.

Greens candidate Alex Bhathal confirmed the local branch had dropped Reverend Nile's Christian Democratic Party - which claims homosexuality is a mental disorder - below Liberal Geoffrey Winters in the seat of Sydney.

"I did hear from a lot of LGBTQI people, some friends of mine, who were distressed by that decision," she told ABC radio on Thursday, adding the Greens had listened to the community.