PM asked to explain wedding invitation to staffer sacked over sexist, racist tweets - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Sacked Labor staffer Rhys Muldoon arrives at the Lodge for the wedding of Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

News24 host Peta Credlin has called out Anthony Albanese for inviting recently sacked Labor staffer and former Play School star Rhys Muldoon to his wedding last year. 

Mr Muldoon was stood down after social media posts in which he made sexual comments about Credlin and labelled senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price a traitor resurfaced. 

Credlin and Senator Nampijinpa Price say the prime minister must explain his friendship with Mr Muldoon. 

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."

Sky News Host Peta Credlin has criticised the prime minister for his relationship with actor Rhys Muldoon.  (Supplied: Sky News)

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."

Richard Dowling said he was unaware of the social media posts.  (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

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.

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.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has accused Anthony Albanese of being "best mates" with Mr Muldoon.  (ABC News: Pete Garnish)

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."