Controversial Katherine Deves flees PM’s Sydney rally to avoid media scrum

Trans sport row candidate Katherine Deves had a front row seat at a Liberal Party rally - until minders ushered her quickly out a side exit. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Controversial Liberal Warringah candidate has fled the scene of a political rally held in Sydney’s west to avoid questions from journalists at what was her first public appearance of the election campaign.

Ms Deves, who has had to apologise several times for her past comments about the transgender community, was in the front row of a campaign rally held at Accor Stadium in Sydney’s Olympic Park, during the event where Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed party faithful.

As soon as the rally ended Ms Deves was immediately flanked by several people associated with the Liberal campaign who attempted to facilitate her exit through a side door away from the event.

As Ms Deves was escorted away she refused to speak to journalists.

Katherine Deves, the Liberal candidate for Warringah, was rushed away by liberal Party minders. Picture By Jason Edwards

She was hurried into a lift and did not speak at all as reporters continued to ask questions.

Ms Deves’ now-deleted past online posts included saying transgender children are surgically mutilated and sterilised, and comparing her advocacy against transgender people competing in women’s sports to taking a stand against the Nazis during the Holocaust.

She also incorrectly claimed: “Half of all males with trans identities are sex offenders.”

Mr Morrison has previously called for an end to the “pile on” against his hand-picked candidate in the Sydney seat of Warringah, currently held by Independent Zali Steggall.

At the function room at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, senior Liberals sought to rally the troops as the election contest tightens.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who entered the room to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, called on local Sydney candidates to pump up the event ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s arrival.

Ms Deves refused to answer questions at the event. Picture By Jason Edwards

The Prime Minister delivers a speech at Accor stadium in the electorate of Reid, while Katherine Deves watches from the front row. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Can we please welcome our fabulous candidates for this election,” the Senator asked the room to thunderous applause.

While Fiona Martin, Sarah Richards and Melissa McIntosh all received the call, Ms Deves was passed over -- despite sitting just one seat down from the Linsday MP.

Speaking to the party faithful from a small riser in the middle of the room, Mr Morrison repeated his tried and tested lines that only he could deliver a stronger economy.

Senator Marise Payne, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with Jenny Morrison. Picture: Jason Edwards

“A strong economy is not some certificate you put on the wall and admire from a distance,” the Prime Minister said, poking fun at Mr Albanese’s economics degree.

“A strong economy is always at the centre of everything we do,” he said.

He argued that only the Liberals would allow Australians to “raise their children in the way you want to raise your children”.

The Prime Minister also renewed his attack on the so-called “teal independents”, insisting they must reveal their true voting intentions before polling day.

The Liberals are growing increasingly concerned about its fortunes in four blue ribbon seats – Kooyong, Wentworth, North Sydney and Goldstein – where they face high profile fights from independents running on similar platforms.

Mr Morrison repeated his claim that if voters were to elect the independents, it would lead to “chaos”.

“It’s not about personality politics. It’s about the serious challenges that the government has and I can tell you, you do not want a pile of chaos,” he told the crowd.