Broadcaster Peta Credlin has launched a strong on-air attack on Labor after former Play School presenter Rhys Muldoon, who had been working as a staffer for Tasmanian Labor Senator Richard Dowling, was sacked when a string of crude old social media posts about her resurfaced. Credlin accused Labor of vetting Muldoon thoroughly yet turning a blind eye to the offensive material because she and other conservative women were the targets, framing the episode as part of a wider pattern of "weak men" attacking strong conservative women without consequence.

Muldoon, 60, had been advising Dowling since July but was dismissed once historic tweets emerged, including sexually explicit remarks about Credlin, a slur used in another post, and a comment branding Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price a "quisling". Credlin noted Muldoon's close ties to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, having attended his wedding last year, and cited past abuse she faced over Clive Palmer and during anti-lockdown campaigning against former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews as evidence of a broader problem. Dowling said he ended Muldoon's casual contract immediately upon being alerted, stating such language was "unacceptable at any time", while Credlin insisted the controversy would only make her "dig in and go harder".