NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet does not know how a text message he sent to the Prime Minister about excluding transgender women from female sport became public, nor does he regret sending it.
Treasurer Matt Kean called for Liberal Warringah candidate Katherine Deves to be disbanded after a series of inflammatory social media posts were made public.
Ms Deves, a northern beaches lawyer, has since apologised for her comments, including calling transgender children surgically mutilated and calling for her lobbying against transgender athletes in sport to stand up against the Holocaust.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday that he would not allow her to be silenced or pushed aside by the Prime Minister, and that he would not allow her to be silenced or pushed aside.
Perrottet said he did not know who leaked the message, but he did not regret sending it.
I agree with Scott on the substantive nature of the issue. It doesn't matter if there are others in my party who disagree, it doesn't matter, said Perrottet.
I believe that girls should play sport against girls and women should play sport against women. He said he did not believe Mr Kean was undermining the Prime Minister in the lead up to the election, by sharing his opinion.
Most fair-minded Australians will look at those issues on face value and make their own assessments, Perrottet said.
Matt has a view on the candidate. She expressed her opinions in a positive way. I agree with Matt on that. We have a responsibility to bring people together and not divide.
We should embrace a robust democracy in Australia and celebrate that people can disagree on various issues. Mr Kean said yesterday that Ms Deves was not fit for office and that she does not believe she is fit for office. He said that he does not believe that she is aligned with the values of the Liberal Party.
Ms Deves apologised for the language she used in the social media posts.
My language has been unacceptable in my dedication to fighting for the rights of women and girls. Ms Deves said in a statement that it has hurt people and detracted from my arguments.