Former Play School host Rhys Muldoon sacked over offensive social media posts targeting Peta Credlin and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
Quick Look
- Former Play School host and Labor staffer Rhys Muldoon was fired by Tasmanian Senator Richard Dowling after resurfaced social media posts included sexually explicit and racist remarks about News24 host Peta Credlin and Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, including calling Credlin a 'strap on wearing fantasy' and comparing Price to a Nazi collaborator.
- Muldoon, a close friend of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who attended his wedding, had been vetted for his role despite the posts being publicly available.
- Credlin criticized Labor's vetting process, while Albanese condemned the posts as 'completely unacceptable'.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Rhys Muldoon, a former Play School host and Labor Party affiliate, was hired as a staffer by Senator Richard Dowling in July 2024. His past includes co-authoring a children's book with Kevin Rudd and contributing to ABC's The Drum. Muldoon attended Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's wedding at The Lodge in 2023, indicating a close personal relationship. His social media history includes offensive posts dating back to 2013, which resurfaced in July 2024, leading to his dismissal.
A TV host has questioned how a former Play School star who went on a sexually charged tirade against her was employed by a Labor senator and invited to the prime minister's intimate wedding.
Warning: This story contains sexually explicit and racist language.
Now-sacked Labor staffer and actor Rhys Muldoon was fired from Tasmanian senator Richard Dowling's office this week after a series of social media posts about News24 host Peta Credlin and Coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price resurfaced.
On his now deleted X account, Mr Muldoon likened Senator Nampijinpa Price to a traitor and called Credlin a "strap on wearing fantasy".
In one post reported by News Corp Mr Muldoon compared her to former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, and said Liberals "picture her with a strap on, pounding away at their sorry a**ses."
On Tuesday Credlin, who was formerly chief of staff to Tony Abbott, said she had a "thick skin" but was "sick" of being targeted.
"What is it about weak men and strong women? What is it about conservative women like me and Jacinta that we are considered fair game when others get defended," Credlin said on News24.
"Muldoon isn't just a garden variety Labor idiot … he is a close friend of the prime minister."
During Question Time on Tuesday, Anthony Albanese said he had not known about the posts and labelled them "completely unacceptable".
But Credlin questioned the idea that Labor was not aware of his posts on social media.
"They were all out there on his social media feed and I don't for a minute believe that this was missed when he was vetted for his job as a Labor staffer," she said.
"It is my view that someone saw these comments and thought they could get away with them.
"Giving a cosy job to the PM's best mate was worth it."
Senator Dowling confirmed on Tuesday he had stood down Mr Muldoon.
"After being alerted to abhorrent tweets from my staffer, I've decided to not continue with his casual contract," Senator Dowling said.
"Everyone in public life has a responsibility to do better when it comes to political discourse. The words used were unacceptable at any time."
An internal party figure during Kevin Rudd's prime ministership and a repeat guest on ABC shows including The Drum and Play School, Mr Muldoon had largely faded from political consciousness until Senator Dowling's hiring of him in July was noted by Politico on Monday.
News Corp subsequently reported a series of offensive social media posts, including one in which he made derogative comments about Jews.
"I am protected under 28a you n***** jew f** dog smoking liberal voter,'' Mr Muldoon wrote in 2013.
In another post from 2023, he suggested Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was "a quisling" during the national debate about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian politician who collaborated with Nazi Germany and was later executed for treason.
Play School star turned political actor
Mr Muldoon has a long association with the Labor Party and penned a children's book with Mr Rudd in 2010.
Both Mr Muldoon and Mr Rudd have been contacted for comment.
Mr Muldoon was a host on ABC's Play School program for several years, and also appeared in a number of dramas aired on the public broadcaster, including Goolagong, Bay of Fires and Rake.
The Drum, a political program which ran on ABC between 2010 and 2023, hired him as a contributor.
There were about 70 people invited to the prime minister's wedding at the Lodge last year.
Senator Price said Mr Muldoon's attendance at the wedding proved he was "not just an ordinary Labor staffer".
"He is best mates with the prime minister, even attending his wedding," she said.
"Muldoon's comments show just what kind of people the prime minister surrounds himself with."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Labor Party will review its staff vetting procedures following public criticism.
Likely · Within weeks
Rhys Muldoon will not be rehired in any government or ABC role in the near future.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific vetting procedures did the Labor Party and Senator Dowling's office conduct before hiring Rhys Muldoon?
- Did any officials in the Labor Party or government see Muldoon's posts prior to his hiring and choose to ignore them?
- Will there be an internal investigation into the hiring process that allowed Muldoon to be employed despite his public social media history?
- Are there any legal or parliamentary consequences for Senator Dowling regarding the employment of a staffer who posted racist and sexually explicit content?
