Federal election, Warringah: Katherine Deves stands by her transgender sport views and thinks she can beat Zali

The controversial Liberal candidate for Warringah has broken her silence to say she stands by her transgender sport views and reckons she can beat Zali Steggall.

Polarising Liberal candidate for Warringah, Katherine Deves, is standing by her views on transgender sport — and reckons she can still beat Zali Steggall.,

The under siege Ms Deves made the declaration during a radio interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Friday, but confirmed she was not transphobic and was all about having a “respectful debate” about women’s sport.

She has been praised by some for her stance on not allowing men who have transitioned to become women to play sport against females.

The Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves, on the campaign trail at Freshwater this week. Picture: Facebook (Katherine Deves, Liberal)

But historic social media comments she made some years ago, including describing transgender children as “surgically mutilated and sterilised” and that “half of all males with trans identities are sex offenders” attracted a storm of criticism.

It also made her the target of violent threats, including being set on fire.

Ms Deves, who has apologised for some of her past comments, said she had not thought of pulling out of the election even though her family, including three young daughters, have moved out of their Manly Vale home.

Katherine Deves said she was drawing strength from conversations with Warringah locals. Picture: Facebook (Katherine Deves, Liberal)

She said those comments were made “as a private person not envisaging that I would eventually put my hand up to run for politics”.

Ms Deves denied she was transphobic and would not be quitting.

“I believe this is an issue about equality and fairness,” Ms Deves told Fordham.

She also said she had voted for marriage equality and had been to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

She said her battle to have dedicated female-only sports was about protecting the rights of women and children to have a fair go.

Katherine Deves said she has been out on the hustings every day, even though she has not done any interviews with local media. Picture: Facebook (Katherine Deves, Liberal)

‘I believe this is very much an issue of equality and fairness and I have received messages of support from all over Australia,” she said.

“All I wanted is to have the debate in the public domain.”

Her campaign is actually ramping up with the Liberals setting up a Warringah campaign HQ in leased offices at Brookvale.

And a senior local Liberal said support for Ms Deves, from across the moderate and conservative party factions, was increasing in the lead-up to the May 21 vote.

Her 15-minute interview with Fordham came after weeks of comment that she was hiding from the media. Her Liberal Party minders stopped reporters from attending a “meet the candidates” forum at Forestville RSL Club last Friday night.

Katherine Deves arrives, guided by a Liberal Party HQ minder, at the meet the candidates forum at Forestville RSL last Friday night. Picture: Nikki Short

Ms Deves said on Friday she had not gone into the “witness protection program”.

She said she had been on the hustings every day, meeting voters “outside supermarkets, walking along The Corso” and “drawing strength from conversations with “everyday Australians”.

The candidate, hand-picked by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, reckons she can win the seat from Ms Steggall.

“I wouldn’t have stood up if I didn’t believe I had a chance to win,” she said.

Ms Steggall has accused Mr Morrison of using Ms Deves as a deviation from other issues.

But Ms Deves maintained her arguments were about equality and fairness.

Ms Deves told Fordham she now wanted to concentrate on issues important to locals.

She said she supported the proposed Beaches Link underground toll road; would not support any more Covid buiness lockdowns and; criticised Ms Steggall for not having enough detail and costings for her climate change policies.

The senior local Liberal figures said some of the wounds caused by the party’s decision not to local members decide the candidate, were beginning to heal.

“She is not aligned to any faction and the factions are starting to get behind her,” the senior Liberal said.