Play School star sacked by Labor for offensive posts stripped of Australia Day ambassador role

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.

In a 2014 post, Muldoon called a critic a “n—– jew f-g dog smoking liberal voter” in a debate over freedom of speech. In another 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 Abbot, Peta Credlin, suggesting she contributed nothing but a “compromised boner”.

“The assistant minister has taken action today … to clearly, clearly say that it is not appropriate for him to be an ambassador,” Albanese said.

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”.

Muldoon was sacked as a casual staffer for Tasmanian Labor senator Richard Dowling on Tuesday after the social media posts were resurfaced by news.com.au.

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, saying “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.

“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,” Albanese said.

“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.”

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