DEATH threats received by NSW Liberals candidate Katherine Deves have been referred to federal police.
AAP understands Ms Deves spoke to NSW Police last week about the threats made against her.
It's understood those complaints were then forwarded on to federal police.
The Warringah hopeful, hand-picked by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to contest the Sydney seat, has attracted controversy for remarks made about transgender children playing school sport.
She has apologised for Twitter posts, which have since been deleted, in which she described transgender children as "surgically mutilated and sterilised", and said surrogacy was a "human rights violation".
In her first interview since many of the comments became public, Ms Deves told SBS she had faced death threats and police were involved, also stating her family had to temporarily leave Sydney for their safety.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Federal Police said the organisation would not comment on whether the matter was being investigated.
A federal police task force was set up ahead of the election which focuses on reports of electoral-related crimes, including threats to MPs and candidates.
Operation Wilmot is working closely with state and territory police forces on the issue of election safety.
The task force was set up in the wake of threats being made to multiple MPs, with this election being the first time such a unit has been in operation.
A Senate estimates committee was told in March an online portal had been created, co-ordinated with the Australian Electoral Commission, to provide advice to candidates if they had any security concerns.
The AFP has also stood up an incident co-ordination centre for the election campaign.
Earlier on Monday, a NSW police spokeswoman told AAP no reports of death threats had been made to the state force.
Ms Deves said in the interview she recognised the debate required "dignified and respectful" discussion rather than divisive and hurtful comments posted to social media.
"With this issue we have a collision of rights and - thus far - the voices of women and girls have not been heard," she said.
"And when we have a collision of rights, in liberal democracies, we debate them in a reasonable, measured fashion."
Labor deputy leader Richard Marles said no one in public life should have to endure death threats.
"They are totally unacceptable," he told reporters in Darwin on Monday.
Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday before the interview aired that Ms Deves recognised a "sensitive approach" was needed.
READ ALSO: Want more news from the northern beaches?
But he backed her right to express her views about an issue which was "fundamentally about women and girls in sport".
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has called for Ms Deves to be disendorsed, saying her remarks could put the chances of the Morrison government being re-elected at risk.
The Northern Beaches Review has made multiple requests to the NSW Liberals for an interview with Deves, now have been accepted.
Australian Associated Press
Have something to say? Send a letter to the editor at: editor@northernbeachesreview.com.au
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.northernbeachesreview.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
