Minister Luke Donellan forced to apologise after ‘dick’ quip

A VICTORIAN minister known for his colourful turn of phrase has been forced to apologise to a Victorian mayor after saying their slice of funding was “better than a kick in the dick”.

ROADS minister Luke Donnellan has apologised to a local mayor for saying her council’s slice of funding was “better than a kick in the dick”.

The Andrews Government minister, who is known for his colourful turn of phrase, told parliament today it was “inappropriate language” and he should have said better than “a kick in the head.”

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Mr Donnellan confirmed he made the comment to Corangamite Mayor Jo Beard during a discussion about the shire’s roads funding this month.

But the minister prompted outrage from the state opposition when he said he should have used the phrase “kick in the head” instead.

Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan has apologised for an inappropriate comment. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“What I should have said (was) it was better than a kick in the head. What my reference was in relation to is the improvements in funding throughout the southwest coast,” Mr Donnellan said.

At a hastily convened press conference after a meeting of parliament, Mr Donnellan told reporters he apologised to Cr Beard once he learned his “kick in the dick” comment had caused offence. But he said he was a “passionate and colourful” individual whose use of language would most likely not change.

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“I have a very colourful turn of phrase. If, in the past, I have caused offence, I apologise for that. But my passion for the job and what we are doing is absolute, and I go at things 100 miles an hour.”

Mr Donnellan said he probably wasn’t going to tone down his language.

“That’s just my manner. I’m a colourful individual and I use colourful terms.”

Corangamite Shire mayor Jo Beard told the Herald Sun she accepted his apology.

“I didn’t personally take offence to it but I was disappointed a senior minister would make a comment like that,” she said.

Mr Donnellan made the comment about two weeks ago during a formal meeting with Cr Beard, her chief executive Andrew Mason and about four other council and VicRoads staff.

She said during the meeting she was strongly advocating for more funding to fix the crumbling roads in the shire.

Corangamite Mayor Jo Beard has accepted Mr Donnellan’s apology. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

“We spoke late yesterday afternoon and he was aware his choice of words were not ideal and I made it clear I was disappointed in the comments,” Cr Beard said.

“But I have accepted the apology and we will move on.”

But Nationals MP Emma Kealy attacked Mr Donnellan for his apology, saying a kick in the head was no better than saying a kick in the dick when “we have such an issue with violence against woman and violence in the workplace”.

The Roads and Roads Safety minister’s choice of phrase at press conferences has been known to keep ministerial media minders on edge.

During interviews, he has referred to speedsters as “dickheads” on several occasions in press conferences, as well as using that phrase to describe truckies who ignored height warning signs to hit a western suburbs bridge.

This month, he said wire rope barrier opponents were “dingbats” and “banjo-playing conspiracy theorists”.

While Mr Donnellan has used “dingbat” seven times in parliament — to describe Coalition MPs and hoon drivers.