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Agence France-Presse

We’ve all been there - sending off a harshly worded text, only to realise, too late, that we’ve sent it to the object of our scorn instead of the intended recipient.
But Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s version of the modern faux pas was exacerbated by the fact that he mistakenly sent the offending text to a prominent journalist, calling her a “mad ****ing witch”.
Dutton has apologised and admitted that he sent the text after reading a column written by Samantha Maiden, political editor for News Corp’s Sunday newspapers. The intended recipient was former cities and built environment minister Jamie Briggs, who was at the centre of a recent scandal over his behaviour towards a female public servant while visiting Hong Kong.
“I apologised to her straight away which she took in good faith,” Dutton said of Maiden in a statement late Sunday.
“Sam and I have exchanged some robust language over the years, so we had a laugh after this.”
Maiden said Monday she was not offended despite the strong language.
News Corp's Daily Telegraph called the SMS text “blistering”.
“Certainly, he did call me a mad witch, that much is true,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“I was more than happy to accept Peter Dutton’s apology.
“As soon as he sent me that text saying ‘Mate, she’s a bit of a mad witch’ I sent him a text saying ‘Mate, you’ve sent the text to the mad witch’.
“Bit of a rookie error,” Maiden said, adding that Dutton should not be stripped of his portfolio.
The message was reportedly intended for fellow conservative MP Briggs in response to Maiden’s coverage of his resignation from his ministerial position last Tuesday.
Briggs confessed to an “error of professional judgement” in a Hong Kong bar with a female public servant.
Media reports said he put his arm around a young consulate staffer and kissed her on the cheek.
Dutton was also in hot water last September when a microphone picked up his attempted joke to then prime minister Tony Abbott about time-keeping on Pacific islands and the threat of sea flooding due to climate change.
“Time does not mean anything when you are about to have water lapping at your door,” Dutton quipped, before being told a microphone was still on.


Umm, that wasn't meant for you: Australian minister sorry for ‘mad ****ing witch’ text to journalist

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and journalist Samantha Maiden, whom he branded a "mad ****ing witch" in a text intended for a colleague - but sent to Maiden by mistake. Photos: AP/News Corp

‘Piercing eyes’: Australian MP Jamie Briggs quits post after ‘acting inappropriately’ at Hong Kong bar with public servant

No Caption Available.

Australian Liberal politician Jamie Briggs (left) has quit the ministry of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (right) after an incident with a woman in a Hong Kong bar. Photo: Twitter

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