The ex-girlfriend of a highly-respected Liberal minister has lost her job as an adviser to Malcolm Turnbull after she revealed the sordid texts he sent to a fellow MP.
Caitlin Keage exposed the sexting scandal last month, sharing an exchange between NSW Innovation Minister Matt Kean and Liberal backbencher Eleni Petinos.
Mr Kean texted Ms Petinos at around 10pm on December 27, saying he was ‘tempted to drive down to see’ her, before adding: ‘Really need to f*** you.’
Ms Keage, a Coalition staffer since 2010 and a senior adviser to the prime minister, posted the texts on her Instagram page and accused her boyfriend of cheating.
In the tumultuous fallout, she has quit her role in Mr Turnbull’s office after she was reportedly encouraged to resign.
Caitlin Keage (bottom left) exposed the scandal on social media last month when she shared an exchange between NSW Minister Matt Kean (top left) and Liberal MP Eleni Petinos (right)
Ms Keage, a respected Coalition staffer and senior adviser to the prime minister, posted the messages on her Instagram page and accused her boyfriend (pictured together) of cheating
The Innovation Minister’s furious ex-girlfriend Caitlin Keage (pictured together left) posted copies of the texts (mock up right) on her private Instagram account month
A spokesman for Mr Turnbull told Daily Mail Australia Ms Keage no longer worked for the prime minister, but would not confirm if she was pressured to quit.
Calls to Ms Keage went unanswered on Wednesday morning.
Mr Kean revealed his relationship had ended in ‘spectacular fashion’ just hours after the texts were exposed.
‘I am deeply sorry my relationship with Caitlin ended in such a spectacular and sad fashion. I wish her all the best,’ he said in a statement.
Ms Petinos (pictured) revealed her distress about being dragged into the saga shortly after the scandal broke
Liberal MP Matt Kean (pictured) has acknowledged his relationship with Ms Keage is over
Ms Petinos later texted Mr Kean: ‘Just got your Christmas card you’re absolutely gorgeous – love you xx’
The following day, Ms Petinos revealed her distress about being dragged into the saga.
‘I am saddened that I have been drawn into this relationship breakdown… I deny the allegations,’ she told the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.
‘It pains me to be making a statement about matters which are outside the scope of my work and are entirely personal.’
Ms Keage quickly deleted the Instagram post, but not before it was widely shared among political and media circles.
‘When your boyfriend cheats on you when you’re away with family,’ she wrote alongside a snapshot of the texts.
‘I was in Adelaide trusting my partner not to play up. But alas, here we are. Another minister getting away with his predatory behaviour.’
A spokesman for Mr Turnbull said Ms Keage (pictured with Mr Kean) no longer worked for the prime minister
‘I was in Adelaide trusting my partner not to play up,’ Ms Keage captioned the Instagram post
Ms Keage (left) deleted the Instagram post exposing the exchange between Mr Kean and Ms Petinos (right), but not before it was widely shared among political and media circles
The messages revealed that when Mr Kean told Ms Petinos he wanted to see her, she replied: ‘Miss me huh? lol.’
‘Yup. Really need to f**k you,’ the minister responded.
Ms Petinos said he already had ‘CK for that’ and when he asked, ‘is that a no?’ she replied: ‘It’s that time of the month’.
Mr Kean said: ‘OK come up later x.’
Ms Petinos told Mr Kean ‘It’s that time of the month’ when her propositioned her. She his pictured with Treasurer, Scott Morrison
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would not be sacking Mr Kean (pictured together) over the scandal
The messages revealed that when Mr Kean told Ms Petinos he wanted to see her, she replied: ‘Miss me huh? lol’
She later texted Mr Kean and said: ‘Just got your Christmas card you’re absolutely gorgeous – love you xx’.
Mr Kean’s boss, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, previously said she would not be sacking him over the scandal.
‘What I’ve read this morning is extremely disappointing,’ the premier said at the time.
‘I’m personally disappointed in him and have told him so, but it is nonetheless a personal matter.’
Ms Petinos said she ‘denies the allegations’. She is pictured with Premier Gladys Berejiklian
‘I am saddened that I have been drawn into this relationship breakdown,’ Ms Petinos said