SA Liberal Party candidate Carston Woodhouse’s controversial views and removal before election
Consensus Summary
The core story involves SA Liberal Party candidate Carston Woodhouse, who was removed as a candidate for the March 21, 2025, election after controversial comments on the evangelical podcast *ElijahFire*. Woodhouse called same-sex marriage 'not real,' feminism 'demonic,' and described homosexuality as opening 'demonic realms.' He also stated Islam is 'poisonous and wrong' and criticized the 'trans agenda.' Labor’s Blair Boyer exposed these views in a press conference, calling them 'shocking and extreme.' Liberal leader Ashton Hurn initially stood by Woodhouse but later confirmed he would no longer be a candidate, though she refused to clarify whether he resigned or was disendorsed. Woodhouse remains employed by the party. The seat of Wright, a safe Labor stronghold, saw Woodhouse’s removal after a chaotic preselection process. Critics, including the Islamic Society of SA and Greens, condemned his rhetoric, while some Liberals defended him. The election’s early voting began on March 19, 2025, days before the official poll date.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Carston Woodhouse is the Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Wright in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, a safe Labor seat with an 11.9% margin (ABC 1,3; Guardian 5,7; NEWSCOMAU 4).
- Woodhouse made comments on the evangelical Christian podcast *ElijahFire* calling same-sex marriage 'not real,' feminism 'demonic,' and homosexuality as opening 'demonic realms' (ABC 1,3,6; Guardian 5,7; NEWSCOMAU 4).
- Woodhouse also stated Islam is 'poisonous and wrong' and described the 'trans agenda' as 'insanity' (ABC 3,6; Guardian 7).
- Liberal leader Ashton Hurn confirmed Woodhouse would no longer be a candidate for the March 21, 2025, election on March 20, 2025 (ABC 2,4,5; NEWSCOMAU 4; Guardian 5).
- Woodhouse remains employed by the SA Liberal Party despite being removed as a candidate (ABC 2,5; Guardian 5).
- The seat of Wright was last held by Labor’s Blair Boyer in 1997 and has an 11.9%–12% margin (ABC 1,3,6; Guardian 5,7).
- Woodhouse’s Facebook candidate page was removed on March 19, 2025 (ABC 3).
- Liberal Party’s SA state director Alex Hyde confirmed Woodhouse was asked to step down and agreed to withdraw (Guardian 5).
- Early voting for the election began on March 19, 2025 (ABC 6).
- Woodhouse is a pastor for Field of Dreams Church in Adelaide and runs home group sessions in Nairne (ABC 3).
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Liberal MP Ben Hood stated on ABC Radio Adelaide that Woodhouse was still the candidate for Wright as of March 19, 2025, before Hurn’s announcement (ABC 2).
- The Islamic Society of SA called for religious vilification and hate speech laws in South Australia (ABC 6).
- Liberal candidate introduction on the party website initially made no mention of Woodhouse’s religious views or his role as a pastor (ABC 1,3).
- Blair Boyer accused the Liberal Party of a 'shambolic' pre-selection process (ABC 1).
- ABC confirmed Woodhouse was employed by the SA Liberal Party (ABC 3).
- Greens MLC Robert Simms called Woodhouse’s views 'abhorrent' and 'deeply offensive' (ABC 6).
- NEWSCOMAU reported Ashton Hurn said Woodhouse’s comments were 'deeply controversial' and 'shocking' (NEWSCOMAU 4).
- The article emphasized the 'brutal axing' of Woodhouse 'pollie days out from election' (NEWSCOMAU 4).
- Liberal Senator Alex Antic defended Woodhouse in federal parliament, saying if he left, 'we might as well shut the doors on this election with one week to go' (Guardian 5).
- Guardian reported Woodhouse referenced rightwing influencers Michael Knowles, Ben Shapiro, and Charlie Kirk (Guardian 7).
- Guardian included a quote from Blair Boyer calling Woodhouse’s views 'insulting,' 'an attack,' and 'astonishing' (Guardian 7).
- Guardian noted Woodhouse’s comments were aired in a press conference on March 19, 2025, and early voting began on March 19, 2025 (Guardian 7).
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- ABC 2 reported Liberal MP Ben Hood said Woodhouse was still the candidate as of March 19, 2025, but Ashton Hurn confirmed Woodhouse was no longer a candidate the same day (ABC 2 vs. ABC 4,5).
- Guardian 5 stated Alex Hyde confirmed Woodhouse was 'asked to step down,' while ABC 2 and 5 did not specify whether he resigned or was disendorsed (Guardian 5 vs. ABC 2,5).
- ABC 6 reported Ashton Hurn had not commented since further Islam/transgender comments were aired, but Guardian 5 noted Hurn had already responded to same-sex marriage/feminism comments earlier (ABC 6 vs. Guardian 5).
- NEWSCOMAU 4 and Guardian 5 both reported Hurn’s March 20, 2025, announcement, but NEWSCOMAU emphasized the 'brutal axing' tone, while Guardian framed it as a 'dumping' (NEWSCOMAU 4 vs. Guardian 5).
- ABC 1 and 3 stated Woodhouse’s Liberal Party candidate page initially omitted his religious views, but Guardian 7 described it as 'strong, principled, and community-minded' without mentioning his pastor role (ABC 1,3 vs. Guardian 7).
Source Articles
SA Liberal Party candidate says 'same-sex marriage is not real' and 'feminism is demonic'
A Liberal candidate says "same-sex marriage is not real", "feminism is demonic" and has questioned what "demonic realms" might be opened up to the world when homosexuality is accepted, in clips shown to the media by the Labor Party.
Breaking: SA Liberal candidate no longer running for party after podcast comments
SA Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn says one of her candidates for the upcoming state election is no longer running for the party after comments he made on Islam, feminism, same-sex marriage and "the trans agenda" came to light on an American podcast.
More views of SA Liberal candidate emerge against Islam and 'trans agenda'
More views by Liberal Party candidate and evangelical Christian Carston Woodhouse emerge with the Adelaide man saying Islam is "poisonous and wrong" and the "trans agenda is insanity". Warning: This story contains content some readers might find distressing.
Brutal axing of pollie days out from election
A SA Liberal candidate who made deeply controversial remarks about same-sex marriage will no longer be standing in the upcoming state election.
SA Liberals dump candidate who said homosexuality ‘opens up demonic realms’ after initially standing by him
Party leader Ashton Hurn confirms Carston Woodhouse will not run for Liberals in SA’s state election, but says ‘people are entitled to have their views’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A Liberal candidate in South Australia’s upcoming state election has been dumped after his “shocking and extreme” views on abortion, same-sex marriage, gender transitioning and feminism were aired by his Labor rival. The leader of
Islamic Society criticises 'competition' to attack Muslims as Liberals stand by candidate
An organisation representing South Australian Muslims criticises the Liberal Party and One Nation for what it says is a rush to attack Islam "more harshly in order to gain political support" ahead of the state election.
SA Liberals stand by candidate who said homosexuality opens up ‘demonic realms’
Carston Woodhouse, running for Wright in Adelaide’s north, also claimed gender transitioning is an ‘illusion’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The South Australian Liberal party is standing by an election candidate who said same-sex marriage is not real, homosexuality can open up “demonic realms” and gender transitioning is an “illusion”. Carston Woodhouse is running for the seat of Wright in Adelaide’s north in the state’s upcoming elections, with early voting beginn
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