Perrottet backs PM’s call Aussies are sick of ‘walking on eggshells’ because of cancel culture

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has backed Scott Morrison’s cancel culture declaration in his latest defence of controversial candidate Katherine Deves.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s warning that Australians are “sick of walking on eggshells” over controversial topics.

Mr Perrottet has weighed in after new revelations the Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves believes there is a link between transvestism and “sexual predators, even serial killers.”

While the Premier acknowledged some of her remarks were “insensitive”, he said the substantial issues she had raised were worthy of discussion.

”Can I ask you about Matt Kean, the New South Wales Treasurer, who’s gone out of his way in the last week or so to cancel … Katherine Deves?,’’ 2GB host Ben Fordham asked him on Thursday.

“She’s said things in an insensitive way,” Mr Perrottet responded.

“But my view … has always been that the issues that Katherine Deves has raised are incredibly important, but have to be dealt with sensitively.

“And I have a very strong view that people should have rights to raise issues and have public debate without being cancelled. And I agree with what the Prime Minister said yesterday. I think Australians are sick of treading on eggshells.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has doubled down on his defence of controversial Liberal candidate Katherine Deves, backing the PM’s declaration that Australians are sick of cancel culture. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

On Wednesday, the PM declared 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.

Senate leader Simon Birmingham refused to be drawn on Thursday morning on new revelations Ms Deves told a US politician that his children, born via surrogacy, were “a human rights violation.”

As debate continues to rage over the Liberal candidate declaring trans teenagers are “surgically mutilated” and that she’s “triggered” by the rainbow Pride flag, the Prime Minister has continued to defend her right to have her say on women and sport – as long as it is respectful.

“What I won’t allow, what I won’t allow, is for those who are seeking to cancel Katherine simply because she has a different view to them on the issue of women and girls in sport,” the Prime Minister said.

“I think Australians are getting pretty fed up with having to walk on eggshells every day because they may or may not say something one day that’s going to upset someone.”

Mr Morrison said he didn’t support people “getting cancelled”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Now you shouldn’t seek to upset anyone else, you shouldn’t seek to upset people, you should deal with things in a very sensitive way, but in this country, I think it’s time to allow people, where they have made mistakes in the past about how they have said things, where they’re prepared to put those behind them, and focus sensitively on the issues they’re seeking to promote, then that’s how they do it,’’ he said.

Earlier, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet defended the right of his Treasurer Matt Kean to speak out on the issue.

But Mr Perrottet has told colleagues he did not leak his private texts to the Prime Minister to any media outlet after they emerged in The Australian newspaper.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister’s office has also denied leaking the private texts with Mr Perrottet.

Mr Kean has called for Ms Deves to be disendorsed. The NSW Premier said the debate needed to be had but it needed to be respectful.

“Now in relation to this issue, obviously from my position I’ve made that very clear that I believe that girls should play sport against girls and women should play sport against women,’’ the NSW Premier said.

Warringah candidate Katherine Deves. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian

“But ultimately, as well, we in public, as politicians in the media, have an obligation in these areas of debate, to participate in a way that is sensitive, particularly in areas that are incredibly delicate and there are strong views on either side of the debate.

“And I think that’s the point that Matt was trying to make and I completely respect it.”

Asked if Mr Kean was sabotaging the Prime Minister in the middle of an election campaign, he rejected the claim.

“I don’t believe so,’’ he said.

“What I would say is that most fair-minded Australians look at those issues on face value and make their own assessments.

“Well, Matt, has a view in relation to the candidate and the positions that she’s taken on things or sorry, I should actually say the way that she’s expressed those positions. Now, I actually agree with Matt on that point.

“That doesn’t mean there are different views; different views and different perspectives.”

Originally published as Perrottet backs PM’s call Aussies are sick of ‘walking on eggshells’ because of cancel culture