Katherine Deves told Libs she was involved in ‘controversial issues’

Her anti-transgender comments have dominated the election race so far but Liberal candidate Katherine Deves told officials her ties with “controversial issues” could affect the campaign.

Biological sex campaigner Katherine Deves ­explicitly declared to Liberal Party officials how she had been involved in “controversial issues” that could become a part of the federal election campaign ahead of her selection as a Warringah candidate.

Ms Deves also disclosed in her party nomination form her user names for social media accounts that she had held along with her membership of the Coalition for Biological Reality, the Feminist Legal Clinic and women and girls sex-based rights group IWD Brisbane-Meanjin.

However, in response to a question on the form about social media posts, Ms Deves, who states she was a Liberal Party member in 2011, 2017 and “applied on September 21, 2021”, denied making any “extreme or offensive” comments.

The application form, obtained by The Saturday Telegraph, has triggered questions among moderate Liberals over whether selectors had missed what might have been seen as the red flags in Ms Deves’ ­application in their haste to lock in a smart and photogenic candidate, or whether they were aware and supportive.

The 39-page nomination form is the first step in what is regarded as a rigorous screening process that also includes background checks by a third party and verbal questions by a nomination review committee.

Warringah Liberal candidate Katherine Deves. Picture: Richard Dobson

Ms Deves was chosen by a three-person committee set up after federal executive intervention of the NSW selection process, comprised of NSW party president Christine McDiven, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Asked whether she had been “involved in any controversial issue that may become a part of the campaign should you become a candidate”, Ms Deves ticked the box “yes” while also noting how she had “publicly supported” the private member’s bill of a Tasmanian politician who advocates for women’s sports, toilets and change rooms to be reserved for females.

Asked whether she had ever made any “extreme or offensive” comments on social media, Ms Deves ticked the box “no”.

She had previously described transgender children as “surgically mutilated and sterilised” in now-deleted Twitter posts while also likening her lobbying to stop transgender athletes from competing in women’s sport to the Holocaust.

A left-wing Liberal said there were many red flags in the form for a more extensive background check.

Another moderate Liberal said the controversy had enabled moderate Treasurer Matt Kean to cement left votes in at-risk seats such as North Sydney.

Katherine Deves ticked a box to indicate she was involved in a controversial issue. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

Premier stands by his comments

This comes as Premier Dominic Perrottet has stood by his comments that people should be allowed to “voice their opinions” while agreeing to meet with transgender advocates next week.

Mr Perrottet came under fire after declaring “girls should play sport against girls” in response to inflammatory tweets made by Warringah candidate Katherine Deves about transgender children – comment that led to independent Alex Greenwich threatening to withdraw support from the minority government.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Christian Gilles

Mr Perrottet, who has agreed to meet with Mr Greenwich and transgender advocates, said he would always stand up for people’s rights to express their views.

“My government will not be threatened on the issue of allowing people to voice their opinions,” he said.

“As Premier of NSW I will always stand up for people’s rights to express their views. People have been calling for resignations on both sides of the recent debate.

“How about no one resigns and instead we listen to each other in a tolerant and respectful way. The only thing that is not up for debate is that we are not going to shut down debate.”

The premier also took a sledge at politicians who did not possess a view: “If you are a politician and you don’t have a view, then you are in the wrong profession.”

Mr Greenwich, a strong advocate for the LGBTQI community, said until a meeting was agreed to on Friday he had not heard from Mr Perrottet despite reaching out to the premier to resolve the matter.

“It is the community I am most concerned and compassionate about,” he said.

“Since Dom has been premier, I have always ensured his government has not lost a vote.

“Stability of government is important to me, but so is the LGBTQI community.”

Originally published as Katherine Deves told Libs she was involved in ‘controversial issues’