Minister Steve Herbert pays back costs for chauffeuring his dogs in taxpayer funded car

UPDATE: EMBATTLED Corrections Minister Steve Herbert says he has repaid $192.80 for fuel costs related to his driver ferrying his dogs around the state in a taxpayer-funded car.

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EMBATTLED Corrections Minister Steve Herbert says he has repaid $192.80 for fuel costs related to his driver ferrying his dogs around the state in a taxpayer-funded car.

Despite the specific amount repaid, Mr Herbert remains unable to say for sure how many times he had the dogs taken between his Parkdale and Trentham properties without him in the car.

He told the Legislative Council it was “one, or possibly two occasions”, leading to incredulous jeers from the state opposition.

Mr Herbert was also unable to say whether there were other times when the dogs were accompanied by someone other than himself.

But the minister said he recognised he had stuffed up and would donate $1000 to a dog shelter called Pets Haven as well as repay the $192.80 to taxpayers.

Steve Herbert has paid back money related to chauffeuring his dogs around the state. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Corrections Minister said a thorough review was undertaken “to get an accurate picture” of how many times Patch and Ted were given the taxpayer-funded ride, but “the detail sought has not been recorded and is not reflected in the logs”.

“This response is therefore based on my recollection,” Mr Herbert said in a statement to the Upper House.

“On one, or possibly two occasions the driver couriered my dogs unaccompanied, in travel containers at the rear of the vehicle, directly between Parkdale and Trentham when I was not in the car.

“On other occasions when I travelled to or from my residence, the dogs have also been transported in their travel containers with cargo including luggage, portfolio-related paperwork and other work equipment, consistent with current guidelines.”

Steve Herbert's dogs Patch (left) and Ted. Picture: Facebook

As the Herald Sun revealed last month Mr Herbert ordered his driver to pick up his pampered pooches Patch and Ted from a Parkdale house and take them to a Trentham property without the minister present in the car.

Premier Daniel Andrews said today he had spoken to his minister about the inappropriate use of his car and driver and said he believed Mr Herbert had paid back petrol money from the dog chauffeuring.

Bizarrely, when contacted earlier today Mr Herbert’s office was unable to say how much money he had repaid, or provide any detail about how many trips were taken by the dogs without the minister present.

Steve Herbert's dogs Patch (left) and Ted. Picture: Facebook

The use of his car to ferry the dogs around the state without him present has outraged Victorians and angered some of his colleagues.

The incident has also made international headlines.

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