Rising star MP caught cheating on girlfriend with a fellow politician
Matt Kean is seen as a rising star in the NSW Liberal government. Photo: Facebook
A NSW MP has been caught out sexting a fellow politician, unmasking an embarrassing love triangle that has also drawn the Prime Minister’s office into the controversy.
NSW Innovation Minister, Matt Kean, 36, was sprung after his furious girlfriend, Caitlin Keage, a senior advisor to Malcolm Turnbull, published on Instagram a series of incriminating text messages between him and fellow Liberal MP Eleni Petinos, 30, the member for Miranda in Sydney’s south-east.
“When your boyfriend cheats on you when you’re away with family,” Ms Keage captioned the Instagram post.
“I was in Adelaide trusting my partner not to play up. But alas, here we are. Another minister getting away with his predatory behaviour.”
Eleni Petinos was elected in the seat of Miranda in 2015. Photo: Facebook
Mr Kean, seen as one of the Liberals’ rising stars in NSW, reportedly admitted to The Daily Telegraph on Thursday evening that his two-year relationship with Ms Keage, 30, had ended suddenly in “spectacular” fashion.
“I am deeply sorry my relationship with Caitlin has ended in such a spectacular and sad fashion. I wish her all the best.”
The revelation of sexting and apparent infidelity drew a swift rebuke from Mr Kean’s boss, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who is in Washington, D.C. with Mr Turnbull as part of a delegation meeting US President Donald Trump.
Ms Berejiklian told media on Friday morning (AEDT) that she was “personally disappointed in him and have told him so”.
But Ms Berejiklian then added that it was “nonetheless a personal matter”.
Ms Berejiklian has not talked about Mr Kean’s future in the party. Photo: Facebook
Federal Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne described the chain of events and sudden breakdown of the relationship between Mr Kean and Ms Keage as “very sad”.
“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,” Mr Pyne told the Nine Network.
“It’s got nothing to do with the Prime Minister’s office, but it’s obviously a personal matter and very sad.”
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