NSW Liberal candidate described campaign supporting LGBT youth as ‘grooming tactic’ used by ‘gender extremists’

NSW Liberal candidate Katherine Deves has apologised for comments she made about trans children on now-deleted social media accounts. Photograph: Liberal Party of NSW

The Liberal party candidate in Warringah, Katherine Deves, described Wear it Purple Day – a day billed as celebrating diversity – as a “grooming tactic” promoting “extreme body modification” on a now-deleted website.

On the now-deleted website, seen by Guardian Australia, she also suggested a young boy could ask to “remove his penis” after attending a respectful relationships workshop at school.