A former Play School star turned Labor staffer has been sacked for “abhorrent” tweets calling News24 host Peta Credlin a “strap on-wearing fantasy for Liberals”.

Rhys Muldoon on Tuesday lost his job in Tasmanian senator Richard Dowling’s office after the historic social media comments were reported by news.com.au.

Muldoon posted a string of slurs in 2022 against Credlin, Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff (2009 to 2013), including: “She’s what Liberals think of Margaret Thatcher. They picture her with a strap on, pounding away at their sorry a–ses”.

He also wrote that the “tragedy of Peta Credlin” was her belief that “anyone other than fetishised old white men think she contributes anything apart from a compromised boner”.

In another post three years ago, Muldoon called Coalition frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price a “quisling”.

The insult refers to a traitor who helps their enemies take over and was in relation to her “no” stance during Indigenous Voice referendum.

The term originated from Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian politician who helped Nazi Germany and was later executed by a firing squad for high treason.

Rhys Muldoon was on Play School for 12 years. Photo: IMDb

Muldoon had worked for Dowling, a first-term senator, since July.

Dowling called the posts abhorrent.

“After being alerted to abhorrent tweets from my staffer, I’ve decided to not continue with his casual contract,” he 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.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Dowling was unaware of the offensive tweets until media reporting on Tuesday.

Muldoon was sacked soon after.

“The comments are completely unacceptable, and Senator Dowling has taken immediate action, and that’s appropriate,” Albanese said.

Muldoon, 60, has had an extensive career in Australian television and stage since the early 1990s, including 12 years at Play School, as a lead on Lockie Leonard and Bay of Fires, and in productions for the Sydney Theatre Company.

He has also been involved in politics for some time, including door-knocking for Labor and collaborating with former trade union boss Sally McManus.

He was reportedly a guest at the wedding of Albanese and Jodie Haydon.

He co-authored the 2010 children’s book Jasper and Abby and the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle with then-prime minister Kevin Rudd.

A post on Kevin Rudd’s Instagram page. Photo: Instagram

In a picture shortly before the 2022 federal election, which is still on Muldoon’s Instagram, he appears with Albanese above the caption: “It’s time”.

Another shows Muldoon kissing the Prime Minister’s cheek.

At the time of reporting, the X account appeared to have been removed.

Muldoon was contacted for comment.

-with AAP