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Former Play School actor and Labor staffer Rhys Muldoon has been removed from Australia Day ambassador duties and sacked from his parliamentary job after his offensive social media posts were resurfaced.
Former Play School actor and Labor staffer Rhys Muldoon will be barred from returning as an Australia Day ambassador after his slur-riddled posts on X were resurfaced.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the House during question time on Wednesday that the comments were outrageous and completely unacceptable and that his assistant minister Patrick Gorman had intervened. Muldoon has also been sacked from his role as a casual staffer for Tasmanian Labor senator Richard Dowling. The sacking on Tuesday followed the resurfacing of the social media posts by news.com.au.
Gorman said in a statement: Upon becoming aware of this issue this morning, I asked the National Australia Day Council CEO to engage with the NSW Australia Day Council to remove Mr Muldoon from any ambassador duties. Albanese told parliament: The assistant minister has taken action today to clearly, clearly say that it is not appropriate for him to be an ambassador.
In a 2014 post, Muldoon called a critic a n----- jew f-g dog smoking liberal voter to demonstrate the perils of free speech. In another post from 2023, he called Liberal frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Quisling, a reference to a Nazi collaborator. He also attacked News24 anchor and former chief of staff to Tony Abbott, Peta Credlin, suggesting in an explicit description that she contributed nothing but a compromised boner.
Coalition frontbencher Tony Pasin twice asked the prime minister on Wednesday whether he provided any references recommending Muldoon, who attended the prime minister's wedding last year. Albanese did not answer the question directly. Albanese said: His Australia Day role began under the former Coalition government. His appointment had zero to do with me.
Manager of opposition business Dan Tehan later disputed this, saying the appointment was made while the Gillard government was in office. Asked again, Albanese said the appropriate action had been taken after Muldoon's comments resurfaced. Albanese said: There are two roles in which action has been taken. One was he was a relief staff casual employee for Senator Dowling.
When Senator Dowling became aware of the comments, he took immediate action. That's appropriate. With regard to his role as an ambassador, I'm advised that he's been an ambassador since 2014. I'm advised that he was not an ambassador this year in 2026.
The opposition has continued to press the government over the appointment, with questions raised about Muldoon's connections to the prime minister. The government has maintained that the appropriate steps were taken once the comments came to light.
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brisbanetimes:Play School star sacked by Labor for offensive posts stripped of Australia Day ambassador roleThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Rhys Muldoon Australia Day Ambassador Anthony Albanese Racist Posts National Australia Day Council Patrick Gorman Offensive Social Media Posts
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