PM explodes over anti-transgender candidate Katherine Deves ‘pile on’

Scott Morrison has exploded over the “pile on” against Liberal candidate Katherine Deves as it emerged she told preselectors there was nothing embarrassing in her past.

Scott Morrison has exploded over the “pile on” against Liberal candidate Katherine Deves by Liberals including the NSW Treasurer Matt Kean as it emerged she told preselectors there was nothing embarrassing in her past.

Senior Liberals have told news.com.au that Ms Deves was probed at a nomination review committee meeting whether or not there was anything in old social media posts that might spark controversy.

Ms Deves who has published over 6,000 tweets mainly about transgenderism and women’s sport said there was not. However, a string of tweets and videos have subsequently emerged that she has apologised for.

News.com.au has also confirmed that a social media check that the Liberal Party paid a private company to conduct did not find many of the posts now surfacing in the media because the process was “rushed” and she had deleted her account.

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There are a growing number of people calling for the PM to dump Ms Deves as a candidate. Picture: Katherine Deves – Liberal Candidate for Warringah/Facebook

Ms Deves has declared she isn’t ‘going anywhere’. Picture: Katherine Deves – Liberal Candidate for Warringah/Facebook

Some Liberals have raised questions over whether the failure to declare these posts might provide grounds to disendorse Ms Deves, citing the precedent of Michael Towke who lost his preselection clearing the way for Mr Morrison to enter politics.

But the Prime Minister said he did not support forcing her to stand aside.

“I’m not going to allow her to be silenced, I’m not going to allow her to be pushed aside as the pile on comes in to try and silence her,’’ he said.

“I will stand up with her, my team is standing up with her, and we will make sure that she won’t be silenced.

“I think she will make a great Member of Parliament. I don’t think she should be silenced because she has views that others don’t agree with.”

Earlier, Radio host Ben Fordham has slammed Warringah MP Zali Steggall, who Ms Deves is running against, as “off with the fairies” for suggesting that parents who are concerned about transgender athletes are transphobic.

“That is a disgraceful slur,” Ben said.

“Zali Steggall is off with the fairies.”

Matt Kean calls for PM to ‘disendorse’ Deves

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has declared that Ms Deves is unfit for office and that her “disgraceful” views on trans people were outright bigotry.

As Ms Deves declares she “wasn’t going anywhere” and was backed by former Prime Minister John Howard, the NSW Treasurer said the Liberal Party he loved was about dignity for everyone.

“My view is that this person should be disendorsed,” the NSW Treasurer told ABC Radio National.

“Because I do not believe she is fit for office. I do not believe she is aligned with the values of the Liberal party.

“Describing Wear It Purple Day – a day that celebrates inclusion and diversity, that focuses on reducing bullying and suicide amongst young gay and lesbian kids – she described it as a grooming technique.”

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has called for Liberal candidate Katherine Deves to be ‘disendorsed’ over her anti-transgender comments. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“She invoked the Nazis to attack trans people, comparing one case to the grudge trails of the Third Reich I mean, to compare this issue to one of the worst atrocities in human history is nothing short of appalling. Absolutely disgraceful.

“She compared transgender people being removed from their homes to the stolen generation, one of the darkest chapters in Australian history, and she also said that half of all male trans people are sex offenders.

“I mean, that’s just outright bigotry. We live in a cosmopolitan, multicultural society where people are free to be themselves. And that’s a fundamental tenet of liberalism.

“We live in a cosmopolitan, multicultural society where people are free to be themselves. And that’s a fundamental tenet of Liberalism.”

Mr Kean said that he held real fears that her candidacy could impact on the chances of Liberal MPs in inner-city seats.

North Sydney Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman has reportedly asked the Prime Minister’s office to disendorse Ms Deves.

“I am very worried. I think Trent Zimmerman is one of the best people that is serving in our [federal] parliament. He has been one of my mentors and heroes,’’ Mr Kean said.

“[Wentworth MP] Dave Sharma is another outstanding liberal in the Liberal Party. And I want to make sure they continue to play a key role in shaping the direction of our country.

“I don’t think having candidates spruiking the politics of division is in the interests of the party or in the interests of those candidates.

Mr Kean said the preselection process had been a mess.

“I think the vetting processes let down the party here,’’ he said.

“We should never have been in a position where the Prime Minister had to go and pick a candidate. This person should be disendorsed. I do not believe she is fit for office. I do not believe she aligns with the values of the Liberal Party.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing growing pressure over Ms Deves controversial comments. Picture: Jason Edwards

Liberal candidate Katherine Deves is digging in over calls to quit, warning she “will not stop fighting” and revealing she had received “death threats” over her transgender views.

She has previously apologised for her comments invoking Nazism and vowed to conduct the debate with more respect.

A prominent trans sport campaigner Kristi Miller has threatened to sue Ms Deves over comments in which she implied that women should be scared of trans people in female toilets.

But in a letter to supporters tonight, Ms Deves said she was withstanding a savage backlash and had received “death threats”.

“My opponents, parts of the left media and twittersphere have been unrelenting in calling for me to be disendorsed, because of past statements.’’ she said.

“I have been bullied in the most vile way and received death threats. I’m not going anywhere, as the Prime Minister said yesterday.”

Ms Deves said her strong commitment was that Warringah should have a plebiscite.

“As with many seats across Sydney, how I was selected was not my decision. It was not how I wanted to come to represent you,’’ she said.

Former Prime Minister John Howard has backed embattled Liberal candidate Katherine Deves as she faces a grassroots revolt over her views on trans teenagers.

Mr Howard has joined Tony Abbott, the former Member for Warringah, in backing the rookie candidate.

“Mr Howard strongly supports Ms Katherine Deves. She is the endorsed Liberal candidate,” a spokesman told news.com.au.

Originally published as PM explodes over anti-transgender candidate Katherine Deves ‘pile on’