MP Richard Welch admits making printing offer after a leaked WhatsApp message shows he offered his staff and electorate office to print party-related material
A Victorian Liberal MP has admitted to offering “same-day” printing services from his taxpayer-funded office to his party’s MPs, candidates and branch members in a possible breach of parliamentary rules.
A Victorian Liberal MP has admitted to offering “same-day” printing services from his taxpayer-funded office to his party’s MPs, candidates and branch members in a possible breach of parliamentary rules.
Richard Welch made the admission when the Herald Sun questioned him about a leaked WhatsApp message in which he offered his staff and electorate office to print party-related material.
The MP denied it was against the rules as he had paid for the printer out of his own pocket.
However, his admission could mean the upper house MP for North Eastern Metropolitan Region has fallen foul of the rules, which were tightened in the wake of Operation Watts conducted by IBAC and the Victorian Ombudsman into the misuse of parliamentary resources.
It bans all party-related activities by office staff in electorate offices.
In March last year, Mr Welch sent the message to more than 30 Liberal Party branch members spruiking a new office printer, which he said could generate “large format” prints “for any occasion”.
Party members, including many involved in party fundraising, were invited to call his “friendly” staff at his Blackburn office to organise “usually same-day service”, according to the message seen by the Herald Sun.
“I am happy to make this function available to any SEC or member who is in need of an urgent core flute (sic) or a special purpose,” he wrote.
Corflutes are large signs made of corrugated plastic, usually carrying candidates’ photos, party messaging, or information on local issues.
Under the Victorian parliament’s rules, MPs’ staff are forbidden from carrying out “any party-specific activities” and using work resources and properties for the same, including their taxpayer-funded electorate offices.
Mr Welch insisted the on-site printing service was not a breach of parliamentary rules because he paid for the printer and toner himself.
He added no party-related printing work was carried out during work hours, but admitted that “anything that we would do that’s not electoral office related would be out of hours”.
Analysis of 2024-25 of office printing and communication budgets showed Mr Welch was the fourth-highest spender for the line item among upper house Liberal MPs.
When asked about using the printer for party-related activities, Mr Welch said he “may have” used it to print signs for events, as well as for campaigns on local issues at weekend markets. He also said he had printed materials for constituents to use at events.
Insiders raised concerns that Mr Welch may have broken parliamentary rules by using his electorate office and staff for party activities, even if he paid for the printing resources out of his own pocket.
In 2022, the state government moved to implement 21 recommendations from a joint IBAC and Victorian Ombudsman investigation, Operation Watts, after widespread misuse of Labor electorate office staff to campaign, known as the “Red Shirts rort”, was uncovered by the Herald Sun. It found electorate officers were improperly employed solely to campaign for Labor candidates.
Sources confirmed Mr Welch’s offer was extended across the northeastern metro region to SEC members, who are in control of campaigning and election fundraising.
The latest issue comes after Mr Welch was investigated by the parliament privileges committee for failing to declare he was listed as the secretary of a British company.
A spokesman for Liberals leader Jess Wilson declined to comment.
Originally published as MP Richard Welch admits making printing offer after a leaked WhatsApp message shows he offered his staff and electorate office to print party-related material
