Fears that ‘transgender issue’ could bring down NSW government
Key independent MP Alex Greenwich has threatened to cut supply to the minority NSW government if the premier continues to make negative statements about the transgender community and sport.
Katherine Deves has caused controversy through her views on trans-gender athletes. (Image: Supplied Liberal Party).
Dominic Perrottet has weighed in on the controversy surrounding his and Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s choice of candidate for the north shore electorate of Warringah in the upcoming federal election.
The candidate, Katherine Deves, has been campaigning on preventing transgender women playing sport alongside other women.
But Deves has drawn controversy for a long and recent history of comments considered transphobic, including that transgender children were “mutilated”, opposing transgender athletes in sport was akin to preventing the Holocaust, and linking gender transitioning or cross-dressing to sex offending and serial killing.
“I’m deeply concerned that the impacts of statements made are having an extremely negative impact on trans people and particularly young trans people,” Greenwich told AAP.
He has threatened to end his guarantee of supply to Perrottet’s minority government in the NSW lower house, where the premier needs the support of at least two crossbenchers.
“I’ve made it clear that I’ve had a very cooperative relationship with Mr Perrottet in minority government; that would be impossible for me to maintain if these types of attacks continue,” Greenwich said.
The independent MP is hoping to meet with Mr Perrottet in a week, along with transgender advocates and representatives from sporting codes.
Perrottet has said “girls should play sport against girls” and took to ABC Sydney on Friday to say it was a personal issue to him as a father of six girls.
“People are entitled to have their opinion,” Perrottet told ABC Sydney.
“When asked my opinion I will express my opinion in a sensitive way.”
But Greenwich said the premier’s views were not an informed opinion and was hoping for Perrottet to be more understanding after their planned meeting.
Liberal MPs, including NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, have called for the party to dump Deves as candidate, while others have called for Kean to be sacked for speaking out.
“I believe no one should be sacked,” Perrottet said.
Morrison has stood by Deves, who has refused to make public appearances or comments since apologising for her past comments. Since then more of her previous comments have surfaced.
