Prime Minister denies silencing Katherine Deves over transgender controversy
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has denied “silencing” Warringah Liberal candidate Katherine Deves, saying he supports her “very common sense position” over the trans debate and women in sport.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he’s “certainly not” silencing Katherine Deves after reports she was being denied an opportunity by the Liberal party to speak on air.
“Katherine knows I have been consistently very supportive of her,” Mr Morrison said on Tuesday.
“The reason for that is she is raising this important issue for women and girls in sport. It is a very common sense position.”
“I am concerned about some of the reports I‘ve seen and I’ve been in contact with her to check she’s okay.
“It's important to bring it back to the simple point she’s making, it’s common sense, I think parents want to have this conversation in a civilised way.”
“I am surprised about the reaction to her comments on women and girls and sport and why people want to take her out,” Mr Morrison told 2GB.
This comes as Ms Deves revealed she has moved to a secret location and sent her family out of town after receiving death threats from activists over her comments about transgender athletes.
“I have received death threats … I have had to have the police and the AFP involved,” Ms Deves said Sunday night.
“My family is away, out of Sydney. I don’t want to put their safety at risk,” she said.
Last week NSW treasurer Matt Kean was forced to deny he was undermining Scott Morrison and Dominic Perrottet in calling for his party to dump the Warringah candidate over comments she made about transgender athletes.
The NSW Premier agreed with comments made by Mr Morrison who said Australians are “fed up with walking on eggshells” over fears they might offend someone with controversial topics including trans women and sport.
The prime minister also said Australia should stop “cancelling people” for speaking their mind.
“When it comes to Katherine Deves, we have all made mistakes in the past, I’ve sure learnt that,” Mr Perrottet said.
“There’s always going to be different views.”
“People have the right to raise issues without being cancelled,” he said.
The NSW Premier said Mr Kean had privately raised his issues with Ms Deves’ comments and views on transgender athletes in women’s sport, prior to making the views public.
The premier agreed the topic of transgender athletes was “sensitive and complicated” and the government would be working with transgender athletes and communities to provide a “sensible response.”
“Girls should play against girls in competitive sport and boys against boys,” Mr Perrottet said.
The premier also revealed the treasurer had told him privately he will be making no further comments on Ms Deves.
“This election is not going to be won or lost based on people's views on Katherine Deves,” Mr Perrottet said.
More Coverage
Man charged with murder of baby boy
A man has been charged with murder after the death of a four-month-old baby in the state’s northwest. Here is what we know.
‘Sincere regret’: ABC sorry over dodgy war crimes story
The public broadcaster has now apologised to a unit of Australian soldiers after it was discovered additional gunshots had been added to a major report about possible war crimes.