Peter Poulos resigns as NSW parliamentary secretary after sending Robyn Preston X-rated picture

Embattled Liberal MLC Peter Poulos has resigned from his position as parliamentary secretary after revelations he shared explicit pictures of fellow MP Robyn Preston.

Embattled Liberal MLC Peter Poulos has resigned from his position as parliamentary secretary after revelations he shared explicit pictures of fellow MP Robyn Preston to another Liberal Party member.

Premier Dominic Perrottet on Friday said he had received Mr Poulos’s letter of resignation from his parliamentary secretary duties but that he remained a member of parliament.

“Peter Poulos contacted me today and informed me he would be resigning from his parliamentary secretary role. I’ve accepted Peter’s resignation,” Mr Perrottet said.

“He obviously has made a mistake he has apologised for, that I think he gave a heartfelt apology for, not just to the people of the state but particularly to the Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston. She’s accepted that apology.

“As well he doesn’t want to be a distraction for me for the campaign. I’ve accepted his resignation from his parliamentary secretary duties.”

Peter Poulos shared photos of the Hills Shire councillor in 2018.

Robyn Preston was running for preselection in the northwest Sydney seat at the time.

It comes after The Sunday Telegraph revealed Mr Poulos had shared the images of Ms Preston five years ago when she was seeking preselection.

An email sent from Mr Poulos had the subject heading “Treasurer’s Pet” and the message “Enjoy” and “please clean up pdf”.

Advocate for survivors of sexual assault Brittany Higgins has also shared her dismay at the incident.

On Thursday, the head of a Sydney Liberal women’s branch has expressed her disappointment at the lack of action taken against Mr Poulos and fired off a letter to the party to ask that he resign over the email he sent about her “friend”.

The request came despite Mr Poulos last week apologising for the “regrettable mistake” and Ms Preston urging the media to “move on”.

Strathfield Women’s branch president Liana Ross said this was not good enough for a party that was fighting the perception that it had a “women problem”.

The more things change the more they stay the same. 🫠 https://t.co/VjMa2J6BlI

— Brittany Higgins (@BrittHiggins_) February 15, 2023

How is this man not immediately required to resign @Dom_Perrottet@Matt_KeanMP ? https://t.co/20UFiminDB

— 🌏 Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) February 15, 2023

Australian politician Peter Poulos circulated explicit images of a woman who once modelled for Penthouse to shame her. After being caught, Poulos was reminded of the "high standards" expected of him. Sorry, but trying to shame women isn't a "high standard". It's the bare minimum.

— Tarang / तरंग (@tarang_chawla) February 15, 2023

In a letter sent to the NSW Liberal Party Women’s Council, NSW Liberal state director Chris Stone, NSW Liberal Party Maria Kovacic, Senator Marise Payne and other senior party officials, Ms Ross described the sending of photographs of Ms Preston as “entirely unacceptable”.

“I write in my capacity as President of the Strathfield Women’s Branch,” the letter said.

“It is disappointing to see there has been no consequence or censure regarding the recent actions of Peter Poulos.

“Robyn Preston is an experienced, loyal, committed, Liberal MP.

“I also view Robyn as a friend. As the President of the only urban Liberal women’s branch in NSW, I would like to categorically state that these actions by Poulos are entirely unacceptable.

“This is not going to assist us to win votes at the upcoming state election, or help us to overcome “the Liberal Party has a women problem” sentiment.”

Ms Ross declined to comment about the letter.

Mr Poulos — who is a moderate — is believed to have been working for then Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean at the time the email was sent.

However, the email was sent from a personal gmail account outside work hours.

When asked about the incident earlier this week, Mr Kean said it was a matter for Mr Poulos.

At the time the email was sent, Ms Preston was vying for the seat of Hawkesbury in a fiercely-contested preselection battle.

A member of the hard right conservative faction, Ms Preston was seen as one of the favoured candidates of Mr Perrottet, who was Treasurer at the time.

The subject line of the email- sighted by The Sunday Telegraph — included the words “Treasurer’s Pet”.

The preselection was triggered after Mr Perrottet, who was then the MP, had decided to change seats and try to overthrow sitting Castle Hill MP Ray Williams.

Unable to do so, Mr Perrottet ended up moving to Epping when MP Damien Tudehope stood aside to end the infighting.

Photographs of Ms Preston from the magazine appeared in media outlets on the eve of the preselection contest.

Mr Poulos has categorically denied to News Corp that he sent the photographs to the media, and that the email was sent to a “private recipient” only.

Advocate for survivors of sexual assault Brittany Higgins has also shared a scathing tweet about Mr Poulos’ circulation of the X-rated photos in 2018.