UPDATE:
MP Matt Kean was forced to make a public statement after his girlfriend Caitlin Keage, a senior media adviser to Malcolm Turnbull, found and shared a series of suggestive text messages between Matt Kean and another MP, Eleni Petinos.
After being advised to resign, Caitlin Keage has been asked to leave and a spokesperson confirmed she no longer works for the PM, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Previously
Turns out no one is immune to having their dirty relationship laundry aired on social media – including NSW Innovation Minister, Matt Kean.
Relationship scandals in the nation’s capital are in the spotlight following the Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion affair.
Posting screenshots of the text messages on her Instagram account, Keage’s caption on the images read:
“I was in Adelaide trusting my partner not to play up. But alas, here we are. Another minister getting away with his predatory behaviour.”
As well as:
“When your boyfriend cheats on you when you’re away with family @matt_keanmp.”
While the posts have since been removed, Fairfax Media report they were sent in late December last year and explicitly suggest some sort of relationship between Eleni Petinos and Matt Kean. The outlet also reports Kean and Keage’s relationship was “on-and-off.”
Eleni Petinos has not yet commented on the news.
Matt Kean released the following statement:
“I am deeply sorry my relationship with Caitlin ended in such a spectacular and sad fashion. I wish her all the best.”
“I know the people involved, they’re both friends of mine and it’s obviously very upsetting for them all to be involved in this story,” Liberal minister Christopher Pyne told Nine news of the incident.
“It’s got nothing to do with the prime minister’s office, but it’s obviously a personal matter and very sad.”
