Daniel Andrews must dump Steve Herbert to bring end to chauffeured dogs saga
DANIEL Andrews claimed that Steve Herbert repaying taxpayer money spent chauffeuring his dogs between homes was the end of the matter. But there’s only one way he can bring the matter to an end.
Opinion
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DANIEL Andrews told state parliament yesterday that because Corrections Minister Steve Herbert would repay money spent chauffeuring his dogs between homes with a taxpayer-funded car, “that is the end of the matter”.
Unfortunately for the Premier, his powers do not extend to gagging debates on issues of public importance.
Herbie, as he is affectionately known by his friends in politics, became an international laughing stock when it was revealed he had his driver take his dogs, Patch and Ted, from Parkdale in Melbourne’s southeast to Trentham in central Victoria.
Most MPs didn’t want to believe the story was true, with one saying he woke up to the news and thought it had to be “a joke”.
No doubt so did many other Victorians. It made the FM breakfast news from Townsville to Perth.
Herbie blamed that strange arrangement on his “really tough job”, which had “played havoc” with his “domestic arrangements”. Now, the hardworking minister has admitted he has been so busy, he has forgotten to tell parliament about the home that was the dogs’ destination in Trentham.
Whoops again.
That will ensure the government spends more time today talking about Steve Herbert when it wants to be talking about anything else.
Colleagues were pretty kind to Herbie on the record yesterday, saying he had done the wrong thing (you think?) and that he was sorry. They conveniently avoided the fact he had initially claimed to have done nothing wrong.
Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten said he was “dumb”.
Andrews has a chance to end the baying by dumping his minister.
Then it really would be the end of the matter.
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