Morrison says he still supports Katherine Deves despite her retracted apology for trans comments

Scott Morrison will continue to back ‘captain’s pick’ candidate Katherine Deves, even after she retracted an apology for her comments on trans people.

Scott Morrison is standing by Liberal candidate Katherine Deves after she backtracked on an apology to insist that “mutilation” is the correct terminology to describe gender reassignment surgery.

Despite maintaining it is not language he would use, the Prime Minister said parents were “worried” about the issue and it was a serious and irreversible process.

The Prime Minister’s “Captain’s Pick” for the seat of Warringah, who he plucked from obscurity to run in the seat has reignited the debate over her controversial views after she backtracked on an apology she previously offered during an interview on Sky News.

Ms Deves said it was the “correct terminology” to describe trans people as “surgically mutilated and sterilised” even if it was “ugly and confronting.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday he was proud to endorse a Liberal candidate like Ms Deves, as she did not “run with the pack”. Picture: Jason Edwards

Katherine Deves had previously apologised for her language around trans people, but backflipped during a Sky News interview on Monday. Picture: Katherine Deves – Liberal Candidate for Warringah/Facebook

Mr Morrison told reporters on Tuesday he was proud to have a candidate standing for the Liberal Party who “doesn’t run with the pack”.

“Not everybody may agree with her point of view. I accept that,’’ he said.

”But I do think, and I was very determined to ensure, that I would have more female members representing the Liberal Party at this election.

“I’m absolutely pleased that I’ve been able to recruit and we’ve been able to appoint strong female Liberal candidates that won’t just run with the pack.”

Ms Deves has previously posted images of topless trans teenagers online featuring graphic images of what they look like after their breasts are removed and described the them as “mutilated”.

Asked today if he still stood by her after she backflipped on her apology for the language used, the Prime Minister responded, “Yeah, I do.”

Katherine Deves deleted Twitter post.

“The issues that Katherine commented on yesterday are incredibly controversial,’’ the Prime Minister said.

“They are very challenging. We’re talking about gender reversal surgery for young adolescents and we can’t pretend this is not a serious, significant issue.

“We can’t pretend that this type of surgery is some minor procedure.

“This is a very significant change to a young person’s life and it is often irreversible. Now I, and I’m sure many other Australians, are concerned.”

The Prime Minister was then repeatedly challenged by journalists at the press conference who pointed out that the surgery cannot be performed on minors under the age of 18.

“Even at any other stage, this is a serious change. It is an irreversible change,’’ Mr Morrison said.

He appeared to be referring to hormone therapy which can now be offered to those as young as 13 or 14 in Australia. The international recommendations suggest teenagers wait until they are 16.

Asked if he agreed with using the term “surgically mutilated”, Mr Morrison said he did not.

“That’s not a phrase I would use or a phrase any Prime Minister would use,’’ he said.

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

Katherine Deves insisted she had used “correct terminology” in tweets that suggested trans people who had undergone gender affirmation surgery were “mutilated”. Picture By Jason Edwards

In an exclusive interview with Sky News on Monday, Ms Deves appeared to double down on the descriptions she had previously apologised for, explaining for the first time that it was the correct terminology.

“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,” she said.

“But that is the correct terminology.”

Last month, news.com.au revealed Ms Deves had deleted her Twitter account after she emerged as the candidate for Warringah.

The deleted tweets included one which read: “They will not stand for seeing vulnerable children surgically mutilated and sterilised,” and contained a photograph of a teenager who had undergone top surgery.

“The lawsuits will be legion, as will be the government inquiries. Complete failure of safeguarding. Mark my words.”

Asked about the matter on Monday on Sky News, Ms Deves said: “I apologise for my language. I do not resile from my position”.

Ms Deves previously issued a public apology for the language after news.com.au revealed she had wiped her social media accounts, including posts that said she was “triggered” by the LGBT rainbow flag.

She also took a swing at NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, suggesting he needed to “read the room.”

Mr Kean has called for Ms Deves to be disendorsed by the Liberal Party warning there should be no place in the party for bigotry.

“I say he’s not reading the room. That’s all I have to say to Matt Kean,” Ms Deves told Sky News Australia’s Chris Kenny.

“Yes. He’s not reading the room.”

Originally published as Morrison says he still supports Katherine Deves despite her retracted apology for trans comments