Cancer conwoman Belle Gibson has again failed to turn up to court, prompting a judge to suggest the disgraced blogger may be "thumbing her nose" at the bench.

The consumer watchdog has called for harsh penalties over Gibson's global health and wellness scam but Justice Debbie Mortimer has made it clear that Gibson's "capacity to pay" any fine imposed by the Federal Court would be taken into consideration before a penalty is handed down.

The court heard that it was difficult to assess whether Gibson would pay a fine because she has not presented a defence in the civil case brought against her.

The disgraced wellness figure has refused to take part in the legal proceedings. Justice Debbie Mortimer suggested Gibson may be too embarrassed to "show her face" or could be "thumbing her nose at the courts."