Former Mount Gambier Deputy Mayor takes aim United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly for trans-athlete discrimination

A former regional deputy mayor has taken aim at outspoken United Australia Party leaders Craig Kelly’s stance on trans-athletes as he tours South Australia.

Though there were no eggs to dodge, the outspoken United Australia Party leader’s stance on trans-athletes has come under fire on the campaign trail in regional South Australia.

Craig Kelly touched down in Mount Gambier on Wednesday afternoon where he slammed the government’s “dud submarine deal” and claimed women’s sport would suffer if “biological males” were allowed to compete.

Former Mount Gambier deputy mayor Penny Richardson challenged Mr Kelly’s view on trans-athletes during a public Q&A with a crowd of 50 gathered at Jens Hotel.

Supplied Editorial Craig Kelly

Ms Richardson said trans-women were subject to strict regulation before being allowed to compete.

“Once they’ve gone through the transition their testosterone levels are equal or less (than CIS women),” she said.

Former City of Mount Gambier deputy mayor Penny Richardson said she was fed up with anti-trans rhetoric. Picture: Arj Ganesan

In response a sceptical Mr Kelly said he was “not convinced” and had “seen some of the photographs”.

Despite claiming he was “sympathetic” and did not want to infringe on the rights of trans people he said women’s sport should not suffer because of “biological males”.

The debate was sparked by the controversial comments made by Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves.

Unhappy with Mr Kelly’s response and with Ms Deves, the former local government leader said the rhetoric was “total discrimination”.

“How dare they cause grief to people who are going through a lot of struggles in life,” Ms Richardson said.

“People who are (trans) do not have a choice.”

However, surrounded by a small number of strong UAP supporters, Ms Richardson was a lone voice of dissent.

Supplied Editorial Craig Kelly

Mr Kelly took aim at both major parties, blasting Labor which “said it was okay to lock people down” and Liberal which was “too frightened and too gutless to speak out themselves”.

He spruiked his decentralised tax policy and renewed calls for enshrined rights for Australian freedoms.

“I was always a believer that our Constitution protected those basic freedoms and liberties. The last two years have shown that I was wrong,” he said.

“Australia must have a bill of rights enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.

Mr Kelly said a 20 per cent tax deduction for people living 200km from a major city was “only fair” as people living in the city had greater access to services compared to the regions.

The UAP leader said the government’s handling of the recent diplomatic crisis regarding China and the Solomon Islands was a complete mess and that Australia needed American submarines available now, not in 20 years.

“They have wasted $5.5b on that dud submarine deal with the French,” Mr Kelly said.

“That money could have been used to help our Pacific neighbours and to keep the Communist Chinese influence out of those countries.”

In a scathing indictment Mr Kelly said the government had put the nation at risk by “playing political games”.

Supplied Editorial Messenger photo request

Mr Kelly was flanked by his party’s candidate for Barker David Swiggs who was hoping to see a bigger swing away from the major parties.

The electorate, encompassing SA’s second largest city, is considered a safe conservative seat, and has been held by incumbent Tony Pasin since 2013.

Mr Swiggs said if people wanted to see a change, then they had to “send a message” come election time.

“Safe seats don’t get the treats,” Mr Swiggs said.

“For too long Barker has been neglected, while marginal seats that Liberal and Labor are desperate to win get promised huge amounts of taxpayer funded entitlements.

“We continually miss out.”