More views of SA Liberal candidate emerge saying Islam 'poisonous, wrong', 'trans agenda is insanity'
Carston Woodhouse spoke on a number of episodes for the ElijahFire podcast. (Facebook)
In short:
SA's Liberal candidate for Wright has said on an American Christian podcast that people have to understand why "Islam is poisonous and wrong".
Carston Woodhouse said people had to understand the "insanity of the trans agenda".
SA Liberal leader Ashton Hurn said there were differing views on topics across all political parties.
More views by Liberal Party candidate and evangelical Christian Carston Woodhouse have emerged, 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.
Mr Woodhouse is running for the northern suburbs seat of Wright in the upcoming state election.
The ABC has also confirmed he is employed by the SA Liberal Party.
On Wednesday, his competitor, sitting Member for Wright, Blair Boyer, aired Mr Woodhouse's views that "feminism was demonic" and "gay marriage wasn't real" to the media.
The ABC has been looking into further views Mr Woodhouse aired as a guest on an American religious podcast ElijahFire in an episode called Using your Gift in the Marketplace in April 2025.
In the podcast, Mr Woodhouse discusses with the host Chris Kuehl "interceding for your nation", and "finding God in the marketplace of ideas".
Mr Woodhouse acknowledged at the time that he was not doing a "great deal of effective work in the political sphere yet", and that he was "red-pilled", which is shorthand for adopting far-right, anti-feminist ideologies on politics around COVID.
"I asked God — how do you want me to pray? Because there are political, legislative, legal things that have been passed in Australia that limit the gospel," Mr Woodhouse said on the podcast.
"He immediately spoke to me, he said, "Pray this — change Australian culture."
Carston Woodhouse speaking to ElijahFire podcast host Jeff Tharp. (YouTube: ElijahFire)
Mr Woodhouse also told the host: "Spiritually, this is World War II … souls are perishing by the minute."
"You have to understand the insanity of the trans agenda, the fact that this is irreversible damage — this is not a game, it's not like this cutesy thing that people can choose," he said.
"You have to understand why Islam is poisonous and why it's wrong, and what it actually believes."
The candidate told the podcast host that Christians had a "growing awareness" of "thought leaders" like Charlie Kirk, an evangelical Christian who believed there was no true separation of church and state.
Mr Kirk was dedicated to advancing conservative causes on college campuses and was an ally of US President Donald Trump before Mr Kirk was shot and killed during one of his public appearances in Utah.
On the podcast, the host introduced Mr Woodhouse as a lead pastor and itinerant minister.
The candidate appears to be a pastor for the Field of Dreams Church based in Adelaide and runs home group sessions in Nairne in the Adelaide Hills close to Mount Barker.
On his Liberal Party candidacy page, Mr Woodhouse's views or position as a pastor are not mentioned; instead, his introduction includes his experience across "hospitality, education and humanitarian work".
Mr Woodhouse's Facebook candidate page was removed on Wednesday morning.
He has been contacted for comment.
Liberals stand by endorsement
On Wednesday afternoon, Liberal leader Ashton Hurn responded to Mr Woodhouse's views about feminism and gay marriage, saying she did not share those views and it did not sit well with her.
"At the end of the day, he is our candidate,"Ms Hurn said.
Ashton Hurn says she does not share Mr Woodhouse's views. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
"I'm not going to stop someone from having an opinion."
Ms Hurn said she would not eject Mr Woodhouse as a candidate and did not answer specific questions about whether she would be out campaigning with him in the lead up to the election.
Ms Hurn was asked about Mr Woodhouse's further views on Islam and transgender issues.
'Torrent of abuse'
President of the South Australian chapter of Pride in Law Charlie Hamra said Mr Woodhouse's comments were the most prominent recent examples of a "continuous torrent of abuse faced by LGBTIQA+ community every day".
“LGBTIQA+ South Australians have no legal protection from hate speech," Mr Hamra said.
"This is out of step with anti-vilification laws in NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic and the ACT."
Labor is preferencing Mr Woodhouse sixth on its how-to-vote cards in Wright, above candidates from United Voice Australia and One Nation.
The seat of Wright is considered a safe Labor seat (with an 11.9 per cent margin) that covers the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide.