Full Breakdown
Former Play School Star Dismissed Over Resurfaced Abusive Tweets
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Staffer Fired After Historical Social-Media Posts Resurface
On September 15, 2026, Tasmanian Labor senator Richard Dowling terminated the casual contract of former Play School presenter Rhys Muldoon. The decision followed media reports that Muldoon’s archived posts on X (formerly Twitter) contained racist slurs, sexist insults directed at News 24 presenter Peta Credlin, and a reference to Liberal senator Jacinta Price as a “quisling.” The posts, dating from 2014, 2022 and 2023, had been deleted before the story broke.
Background & Context
Muldoon’s entertainment career began in the 1990s and includes roles on *The Secret Life of Us*, *Rake*, *Lockie Leonard* and *The Genie from Down Under*. He co-authored a children’s book with former prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2010 and has contributed essays to Australian political anthologies. In July 2026, Dowling announced Muldoon’s appointment as a political adviser, praising his instinct for politics and willingness to speak candidly. The appointment was short-lived once the historic posts were highlighted by news outlets.
Official Statements & Responses
Senator Dowling issued a statement saying the tweets were “abhorrent and unacceptable” and that he could not continue the casual contract. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was unaware of the posts until they were reported and affirmed that the comments were “completely unacceptable.” Peta Credlin, the subject of the 2022 insults, expressed surprise that Muldoon passed Labor’s vetting process and described the incident as reflecting on the individual rather than herself.
Criticism & Opposition
Jacinta Price’s statement framed the episode as evidence of lax standards in government staffing. She argued that the prime minister’s earlier tolerance of sexist commentary had “embarrassed us all again” by allowing Muldoon a “plum gig.” Peta Credlin’s remarks highlighted concerns about the vetting of staffers with controversial online histories, suggesting that the episode revealed shortcomings in Labour’s screening procedures.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The comments are completely unacceptable, and Senator Dowling has taken immediate action, and that’s appropriate,” — Anthony Albanese, of prime minister
- “He understands politics instinctively, writes brilliantly, thinks differently to me and isn’t afraid to say it,” — Richard Dowling, in tasmanian senator
- “The words used were unacceptable at any time.” — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Media accounts differ on the exact phrasing of Muldoon’s 2014 tweet, with some outlets quoting a full string of slurs while others summarize it as a racist epithet combined with a derogatory comment about “liberal voters.” All sources agree the post used the N-word and mocked legal protections for free speech, but the precise language remains unverified because the original tweet has been deleted.
What’s Next
No further actions have been announced by Senator Dowling or the Labor Party regarding additional staff vetting reforms. Prime Minister Albanese’s office has not indicated whether any policy changes will follow the incident.