Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese clash over Katherine Deves apology backtrack

The PM is again standing by his controversial candidate Katherine Deves who has reignited controversy over trans issues, as Anthony Albanese said leaders need to unify not divide.

Scott Morrison has stood by his Warringah captain’s pick candidate Katherine Deves after she walked back her apology for describing gender reassignment surgery as “mutilation”.

The Prime Minister said the words were “not a phrase that I would use,” but he reaffirmed his support for Ms Deves as the Liberal candidate challenging independent MP Zali Steggall.

Ms Deves told Sky News Australia she had used the “correct medico-legal term” to describe the surgical procedure, and her previous apology was only related to how people “might have perceived” her comments.

Asked if he agreed with this terminology, Mr Morrison said he was not the chief medical officer, but warned the issue was a “sensitive” and “complicated” subject.

“What we’re talking about is gender reversal surgery for young adolescents,” Mr Morrison said.

“The issues that have to be considered first and foremost are the welfare of … the adolescent child and their parents and their parents, we can’t pretend that this type of surgery is some minor procedure.”

The federal government’s own health advice website states international guidelines require a person to “be over 18” years old to undergo the surgery.

Liberal Candidate for the seat of Warringah, Katherine Deves, hands out campaign leaflets at Manly Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

In Australia a parent may give consent for a child under 18 to have the surgery.

When pushed on the fact the surgery was not generally available to minors, Mr Morrison claimed the process could “begin” in adolescence.

Mr Morrison said the surgery should “never be entered into lightly,” but denied this meant he was suggesting trans Australians were not thinking the decision through.

“I’m simply saying that this is a significant surgical procedure that completely changes someone’s life, and it should never be entered into lightly,” he said.

The government’s guidelines require any person wishing to undergo gender surgery have any physical or mental health problems “well controlled,” have been taking hormones for at least a year, and have “lived for 12 months continuously as the gender that is the same as (their) gender identity”.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese questioned why Mr Morrison has stood so firmly by outspoken Warringah candidate Katherine Deves, despite her harmful comments about transgender Australians.

Ms Deves on Monday doubled down on her comments that gender reassignment surgery is “mutilation”.

Mr Albanese said he didn’t believe that was “an appropriate comment”.

“Vulnerable people… are deserving of respect,” Mr Albanese said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is standing by Katherine Deves. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Every human being deserves respect. What we need to look for from our national political leaders is ways to unify the country and bring people together, not play politics in order to divide people.”

Ms Deves last week told News Corp she believed the “majority” of “quiet Australians” were behind her when it came to her opposition to trans people participating in professional sport.

The issue has dominated the federal election campaign, with both Mr Albanese and Mr Morrison confirming they believed girls should be able to compete against girls in the sporting arena.

Asked on Monday about the use of the term “mutilation” to describe surgery on teenagers, Ms Deves said she had used the “correct” words.

“It’s very emotive, it’s very confronting and it’s very ugly so of course people are going to be offended,” she said.

“But when you look at medical negligence cases, that is the terminology they use.

“I’m apologising for how people might have perceived it, and the fact that it is confronting, and it is ugly, and I certainly don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But that is the correct terminology.”