Election 2022: Katherine Deves rushed out of Liberal rally by security

Controversial candidate Katherine Deves has been hurried out of a Liberal rally by security as a journalist shouted “are you transphobic”.

Katherine Deves has been raced out of a Liberal Party campaign rally by her new security team to the soundtrack of ACDC’s Thunderstruck as a journalist shouted “are you transphobic?”.

The Prime Minister’s “captain’s pick” for the northern beaches seat of Warringah made a surprise appearance at a rally in Western Sydney on Sunday flanked by two new bodyguards.

News.com.au revealed last month that Ms Deves had described trans teens on social media as “surgically mutilated” and that couples adopting children through surrogacy were involved in “a human rights violation”.

She also made multiple references to the Holocaust, compared trans activists with resisting Nazism and described a gay newspaper as “The Rainbow Reich”.

As soon as the rally ended on Sunday, Ms Deves raced to the exits as journalists shouted: “Ms Deves, do you stand by your comments?”, ”Are you transphobic?” and ”Are you ashamed of your comments?”.

Liberal Warringah candidate Katherine Deves was very quickly whisked away from a rally for party faithful in Sydney Olympic Park, essentially her first public appearance of the campaign. She did not take any questions from journalists. @dailytelegraphpic.twitter.com/iBwO2Oto9W

— Clare Armstrong (@ByClare) May 1, 2022

“If you win the seat you are going to have to answer some questions,’’ a journalist asked.

As Ms Deves was escorted away she refused to speak to journalists, smiling as the lift doors closed and journalists continued to shout questions. She has previously banned the media from attending a publicly advertised politics in the pub event.

Deves was escorted out of a rally.

And into a lift.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Marise Payne called on local Sydney candidates to pump up the event ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s arrival.

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

Time to go. Picture: SBS

Deves clapped enthusiastically at the rally. Picture: Jason Edwards

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 Lindsay MP.

The prime minister told the rally that only the Liberal party could guarantee Australian families the opportunity of “raising their children the way you want to raise your children”.

Last week, Ms Deves told 2GB that despite being attacked for her comments on trans people participating in women’s sport, she has never contemplated backing out of the race to represent her region.

“This isn’t about (transphobia), this argument is about women and girls,” she said.

“Back in the early 1990s I was going to Mardi Gras, I voted for same-sex marriage, I don’t have an issue with that but this is about a collision of rights and we just need to be able to debate it in a respectful way.”

Controversial Warringah Katherine Deves makes a hasty exit from today's Liberal campaign rally, her first appearance on the trail, after gallery journalists tried to ask her questions. #[e-mail]/ubpyT869Dr

— Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) May 1, 2022

Ms Deves said she still believes still win Warringah.

Earlier, there was a feisty exchange between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and journalists over his support for Ms Deves.

“You’ve supported comments deemed harmful to the LGBT community, given that LGBT kids have among the highest suicide rate in the country, how can you stand here today and say its your mission to bring suicide rates down while supporting comments that are deemed harmful,’’ he was asked.

“I haven’t supported those comments. They are two separate issues,’’ Mr Morrison replied.

Making a youth mental health support announcement, the Prime Minister is asked if his support of embattled Warringah candidate Katherine Deves, who has made apologised for harmful comments against the LGBTQ+ community, is contradictory. #[e-mail]/RKRnnc5cm7

— Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) May 1, 2022

“How are they two separate issues? Could you please explain that?’’ he was asked.

“Fairness and sport, women and girls in sport is an important issue where I think there are common sense solutions,” he said.

The Prime Minister delivered a speech. Picture: Jason Edwards

“On the other matter, in terms of what Katherine Deves has said in the past, she has withdrawn those and she said they’re insensitive, and that was my view as well. So there’s no suggestion that I have supported those earlier comments. don’t support those comments.”

Mr Morrison was also peppered with questions over why he was texting at the end of an Anzac Day service.

Deves still believes she will win. Picture: Supplied

Mr Morrison said he was checking the timing of his next appointment so he could spend more time with veterans at the event.

Originally published as Election 2022: Katherine Deves rushed out of Liberal rally by security