Lib sees red over colouring-in book critics

Tim Wilson has hit out at critics of a taxpayer-funded colouring-in book featuring him and his partner walking their pugs.

Tim Wilson, Liberal MP for Goldstein, right, with partner Ryan and pugs Ella and Louis. Picture: Josie Hayden

Victorian Liberal MP Tim Wilson has told critics to take a “reality check” over a taxpayer-funded colouring-in book featuring an image of him and partner Ryan walking their pugs that will be distributed to primary school children in his electorate of Goldstein.

Mr Wilson, who is gay, used his parliamentary communications budget to print 10,000 colouring-in books for primary school children and a further 5000 copies to help improve “mindfulness” for elderly Australians in aged-care facilities.

The books, which include ­depictions of places within his electorate in Melbourne’s southeast and across Australia, will be dropped off at schools before the final school term next month.

Mr Wilson, a prominent ­Coalition supporter of same-sex marriage who was attacked from within the Victorian Liberals earlier this year over his support for a free vote in parliament, has ­included an image of himself on almost every page of the colouring-in books alongside a “Liberal MP for Goldstein” logo.

An inside page of Mr Wilson’s colouring-in book to be distributed to schoolchildren in his electorate.

The Australian can reveal the Victorian Education Department was last night investigating whether the promotional material for the Liberal Party had breached its School Policy Advisory Guide which does not typically allow political materials from being dispersed on school campuses.

“Community members will sometimes give schools materials to distribute to their students and community,” a departmental spokesman said. “Principals make decisions on whether these materials are appropriate to distribute.”

The advisory guide contains a protocol for school visits by MPs and notes the “distribution of any materials that convey partisan or party political activity” are “not appropriate and may breach obligations under the Public Administration Act 2004 and the Constitution Act 1975”.

The cover of the book.

In May, The Australian revealed that Labor senator Sam Dastyari was using his taxpayer-funded communications budget to produce social media videos, chasing online views and clicks.

Mr Wilson’s books feature 10 outline drawings for colouring in of places in his electorate and a further 10 national landmarks.

One picture features Mr Wilson with his partner walking in the Bentleigh shopping precinct with the caption: “Tim and his partner Ryan enjoy walking their pugs Ella and Louis throughout the many beautiful and historic streets of our community.”

Mr Wilson told The Australian the books were sent to the printers before the same-sex marriage survey was announced and it was up to principals whether they were used, although he said there had been a positive response.

He said those who thought the images promoted a political message in the context of the same-sex marriage survey “need to get a reality check”.

“There are lots of images,” he said. “There are mums and kids, and Aboriginals, and animals. And all sorts of things that reflect our amazing awesome Goldstein community. These resources are entirely designed to help constituents engage young children to become more excited about our community. And we’re really proud to produce them.”