Katherine Deves’ death threats were ‘raised with AFP’

Figures within the campaign of Warringah Liberal candidate Katherine Deves have hit back at claims NSW Police were not made aware of her receiving death threats from transgender activists.

Figures within the campaign of Warringah Liberal candidate Katherine Deves have hit back at claims that NSW Police were not made aware of her receiving death threats from activists angered by her comments about transgender athletes.

“I have received death threats, I have had to have the police and the AFP involved,” Ms Deves told SBS Sunday night.

“My safety has been threatened. My family are away out of Sydney because I don’t want them to witness what I’m going through nor do I want their safety put at risk.”

Subsequent news reports have suggested that no such threats existed, with NSW Police saying that they “have not received any reports of threats made.”

“I have received death threats, I have had to have the police and the AFP involved,” Ms Deves told SBS Sunday night. Picture: Salty Dingo/Kennedy Awards/Facebook

However, The Daily Telegraph understands that while no formal complaint was made to the NSW Police, what one individual familiar with what were described as “vile” threats were brought to the attention of the Australian Federal Police, who are in charge of candidate security.

Last week, Ms Deves was abused at the Forestville RSL by a 67-year-old man who allegedly yelled and behaved aggressively towards the candidate and who was later issued a court attendance notice for common assault.

A spokesman for the NSW Police said simply that they “have not received any reports of threats made” while the AFP said it “does not comment on matters that may be the subject of investigation.”

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Ms Deves earlier told SBS: “As a mother and a woman I recognise that the way I prosecuted those arguments was not conducive to proper, reasonable debate.

“I have been very chastened by this process.”

The five minute interview took place after multiple reports that Ms Deves was being gagged by moderates in the Liberal party, and did not see her asked about local issues or policy interests.

Supporter of Deves... Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the media plane yesterday. Picture: Jason Edwards

But yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison denied “silencing” Ms Deves, saying he supports her “very common sense position” over the trans debate and women in sport.

Ms Deves’ candidacy has been the subject of an extraordinary amount of controversy that has seen NSW Treasurer and fellow Liberal Matt Kean accused of “white-anting” her campaign.

Asked about whether she had any regrets about the way she had discussed transgender issues and activism in the past, Ms Deves accepted that things had not taken place in the “measured fashion” they should have.

“This is about women’s rights (and) with this issue we have a collision of rights and thus far the voices of women and girls have not been heard,” she said.

“When we have a collision of rights in liberal democracy we debate them in a reasonable, measured fashion and that’s what should have taken place here.”

Originally published as Katherine Deves’ death threats were ‘raised with AFP’