Senior Labor MP faces integrity probe over offer to print party material
Labor MP Luba Grigorovitch faces an integrity investigation after leaked messages surfaced showing she offered taxpayer-funded office resources to produce party material for mates.
High-profile Labor MP Luba Grigorovitch has been referred to the state parliament’s integrity watchdog for investigation after leaked texts surfaced showing her offering her taxpayer-funded office and printer to produce party-related material.
Liberal MP James Newbury officially referred the member for Kororoit to the Parliamentary Workplace Safety and Integrity Commission on Monday, after the Herald Sun reported on the leaked WhatsApp group texts.
It comes just days after the Victorian government referred Liberal MP Richard Welch to the commission after he admitted he offered “same-day” printing services from his taxpayer-funded office to his party’s MPs, which is also a possible breach.
When questioned about the texts last week, Ms Grigorovitch denied any wrongdoing, confirming she sent the message to members of the Kororoit branch in a group WhatsApp message in February 2023.
But she denied any printing was carried out after she rescinded the offer, saying: “There’s no truth to any of the claims against me.”
In a letter to the commission’s chairman, David Wolf, Mr Newbury said the reports were concerning.
“Any allegations of parliamentary misconduct must be taken seriously and investigated, given the gravity of the case where a witness has publicly made a statement which appears to confirm a breach, I would appreciate your consideration of these grave allegations,” he wrote.
Mr Newbury outlined that it appeared there may have been “breaches of the members code of conduct and wilful, repeated or deliberate misuse of work-related parliamentary allowances or the electorate office and communications budget”.
The texts reveal Ms Grigorovitch telling branch members, who wanted to compile a survey, to use her electorate office resources.
“That’s’ a great idea! If you need anything printed – my office is your (sic) … I am here to serve the people and the branch!” she said.
Originally published as Senior Labor MP faces integrity probe over offer to print party material
