‘Fat thumbs’ put Matt Kean at odds with Dominic Perrottet

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has appeared to endorse criticism that Premier Dominic Perrottet’s differential treatment of Eleni Petinos and Stuart Ayres is an ‘utter disgrace’.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean shared on social media claims his own government is an “utter disgrace” over the differing treatment of sacked former ministerial colleague Eleni Petinos and beleaguered deputy Liberal leader Stuart Ayres.

Mr Kean’s apparent support for Ms Petinos - who was sacked over bullying claims earlier this week - comes several years after it was revealed he had sent the then-backbencher a series of sexually charged messages when he was in Gladys Berejiklian’s cabinet.

Hours after the social media post on Twitter was shared and subsequently deleted, Mr Kean said it was a technical mistake.

The NSW Treasurer’s retweet came as Mr Perrottet struggles to deal with two scandals in his cabinet months out from an election, and leadership questions have arose among Liberal MPs.

On Monday, The Australian’s columnist Nikki Gemmell tweeted her concern about perceived double standards applied to two ministers: Mr Ayres’ ongoing protection by Mr Perrottet over his role in the appointment of ex-deputy premier John Barilaro to a $500,000 overseas post, compared to the swift dismissal of Ms Petinos in light of serious allegations of bullying.

“The perception among women: something very rotten in NSW govt. Swift decisive action against a woman accused over the “possibility” (sic) of “unsafe workplace” practises, & yet…the Barilaro/Ayres situation? Double standards? Women have long memories-esp. when it comes to vote,” Ms Gemmell wrote.

The tweet slamming the NSW Government for “double standards” which was shared by Treasurer Matt Kean, who later deleted it and blamed “fat thumbs in my office” for the message.

Mr Kean then retweeted a response to Ms Gemmell’s tweet – which exclaimed: “OMG yes! Thank you for pointing that out. Utter disgrace!”.

Mr Kean later said the re-tweet was a mistake.

“Discovered my account here and did some unauthorised retweeting earlier. There’s now an official ban on fat thumbs in my office, and I’m calling on Twitter to move the ‘retweet’ button safely to the top corner, out of harm’s way!,” Mr Kean said on Twitter.

A spokeswoman for Mr Kean referred The Australian to his tweet.

Matt Kean tweet

When Mr Kean was Innovation Minister, his suggestive texts to Ms Petinos were leaked by his ex-girlfriend, who discovered the messages and posted them on her private Instagram profile.

On December 27, the messages revealed Mr Kean told Ms Petinos he was ‘tempted to drive down to see’ her. She replied: ‘Miss me huh? lol,’ to which he replied: ‘Yup. Really need to f..k you’.

In 2018, Ms Petinos denied the allegations of cheating levelled by Mr Kean’s former partner, Caitlin Keage. that she was with Mr Kean and said she was ‘”saddened that I have been drawn into this relationship breakdown.”

Mr Kean said at the time that his relationship with Ms Keage ended “spectacularly” and Ms Berekjiklian said she was “personally disappointed” in her minister’s conduct, but did not discipline him.

Mr Kean has kept a low profile since the scandal over former deputy premier John Barilaro’s appointment as the state’s $500,000-a-year NY trade commissioner erupted in late June, holding only six press conferences since July 1. Comparatively, he fronted the media 17 times in June.

A prolific Twitter user, Mr Kean has run into trouble on the platform before. Leaked messages revealed he had urged a TV journalist on the federal election campaign to ask former prime minister Scott Morrison tough questions about divisive Liberal Warringah candidate Katherine Deves.

Despite backing Ms Petinos last Friday, Mr Perrottet resolved to sack his youngest female minister after a frank discussion with Emma Hogan, the secretary of the Department of Customer Service, on Sunday, saying he could be in a position where a government employee felt unsafe in the workplace.

The Australian revealed a confidential complaint by a former staffer, accusing Ms Petinos, the minister responsible for work safety, of calling them “retarded” and “stupid” and threatening to “kill” them for making a small mistake. Ms Petinos denies the allegations.