Tim Whetstone admits not immediately informing Opposition leader of loss of licence was a ‘mistake’, reiterates blame on job

Tim Whetstone is standing by his “ambitious diary” defence for not telling the Liberal leader he’d lost his licence – despite being the road safety spokesman.

Senior Opposition MP Tim Whetstone has stood by his “ambitious diary” defence for losing his licence over speeding fines.

But the Riverland MP – who was forced to stand down as road safety spokesman – says he regrets his delayed confession and has apologised to the Liberal Party and SA public.

Last week, Mr Whetstone quit his Opposition road safety role after revealing he’d relinquished his driver’s licence in September for racking up too many speeding fines.

The SA Liberal Party confirmed Mr Whetstone told them last Friday – more than three months after it occurred and after he regained his licence.

On Wednesday, Mr Whetstone told The Advertiser his decision to not immediately inform his colleagues about the driving infringements was a “mistake”.

“I realise the situation should have been handled better,” he said.

“It was appropriate I step down from the shadow road safety portfolio, but my dedication to my other responsibilities remains.

“While I am apologetic for my behaviour, I will use this as an opportunity to do better in the future.”

Tim Whetstone has apologised to the Liberal Party and the SA public for not revealing he had lost his licence while he was the Opposition’s road safety spokesman. Picture: Emma Brasier

At the weekend, Opposition leader David Speirs said he “didn’t know a great deal” about the situation until only a couple of days before.

“When it was brought to my attention I requested that Mr Whetstone attend a meeting in my electorate office in Hallett Cove, quite a drive from Renmark, and he and I had a frank, serious and difficult discussion,” Mr Speirs said.

Mr Speirs said in the meeting he expressed his disappointment as leader of the Liberal Party and that he would have liked to have known “a bit sooner”

He also said he never questioned why the Riverland MP’s friends were driving them around during a tour of flood-hit areas, and not the MP himself.

Mr Whetstone previously said he did not inform the party of the suspension because he was “fully consumed” with the flood crisis.

“I’ve been consumed by the floods, I’ve been consumed by my day-to-day ambitious diary and it all caught up with me in the end,” he told ABC Radio.

“When it dawned on me that I needed to make him (David Speirs) aware, actions were taken.

“I did that in good faith and I didn’t not tell him with any malice.”

Opposition leader David Speirs (pictured) expressed his disappointment in a private meeting with Mr Whetstone. Picture: Emma Brasier

Mr Whetstone said he took losing the road safety portfolio seriously.

On continuing his role as police and community safety spokesman, Mr Whetstone said he was working hard to better the sector.

“It’s an important portfolio that I’m working extremely hard on to better it and to give police more powers, more capabilities and fighting for a better budget for police to keep communities safe and do what they need to do,” he said.

He will also continue as Opposition spokesman for corrections, mental health and suicide prevention.