Steve Herbert resigns as Corrections Minister

UPDATE: Daniel Andrews has surrendered to pressure after Corrections Minister Steve Herbert quit two weeks after the Patch and Ted affair broke.

• Analysis: Labor MPs knew Herbert was finally cooked
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• ‘I’m amazed he is still there’: PM on dog MP
• Chauffeured puppies minister’s big bills

UPDATE: PREMIER Daniel Andrews has surrendered to pressure over the Patch and Ted affair.

Corrections Minister Steve Herbert was forced to quit today, 14 days after the scandal over his use of a taxpayer-funded car to chauffeur his pet dogs began.

He tendered his resignation in the morning, after being called to the Premier’s office.

Mr Andrews insisted he “did not sack him”.

But colleagues said Mr Herbert was terminally wounded after being unable to tell state parliament how many times — or even on what dates — his dogs were chauffeured.

Statement from @SteveHerbertMP who has just resigned as minister @theheraldsun #springst pic.twitter.com/DfE4XAb7Ef

— Anthony Galloway (@Gallo_Ways) November 8, 2016

Two weeks ago, the Herald Sun revealed Mr Herbert had ordered his driver to pick up his pets, Patch and Ted, and take them from his Parkdale property to a Trentham property 120km away.

He is the third minister in less than two years to be turfed from Cabinet, following Adem Somyurek and Jane Garrett.

Mr Andrews was savaged in parliament, a fortnight after saying Mr Herbert’s pledge to repay fuel money was “the end of the matter”.

VICTORIAN LABOR MP STEVE HERBERT CAUGHT OUT ORDERING DRIVER TO CHAUFFEUR DOGS 120KM

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said: “Daniel Andrews should have sacked Steve Herbert two weeks ago and not waited for his minister to resign.”

Mr Andrews said Mr Herbert had “reflected upon” the error of his ways and tendered his resignation: “I thank Steve for his service and his contribution to the government.”

Mr Herbert conceded he had become a “distraction” and would quit Cabinet for the sake of the government. He thanked his family and staff.

He also said he would not stand for re-election in 2018.

Bonus Twitter & web only @theheraldsun front page on Steve Herbert axing over Patch and Ted crisis #springst pic.twitter.com/eBO70jMBSl

— damon johnston (@damonheraldsun) November 9, 2016

“The Andrews Government is achieving great things for Victoria and I have been proud to serve as a minister,” he said.

When the Patch and Ted saga was revealed by the Herald Sun, the minister said he hadn’t “the foggiest” idea how many times the pampered pooches were taken from Parkdale to Trentham.

He said his driver had done the task when there was nothing to do, and later said his busy schedule meant looking after the dogs was difficult.

Today, after quitting, he did not attend Question Time and left parliament.

In his absence, the Premier was asked whether Mr Herbert would release his car logbook.

Mr Andrews said they would be available only in the usual way — referring to Freedom of Information.

Mr Herbert was replaced in Cabinet by Gayle Tierney, a former secretary of the AMWU vehicle division and an ally of federal powerbroker Senator Kim Carr.

A Labor source said if Ms Tierney had not been the replacement, it would have caused a split in the Left.

State Labor MP Steve Herbert's dogs Patch (left) and Ted. Picture: Supplied: Facebook

Ms Tierney said she would work hard for Victorians.

Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas will replace Ms Tierney as Cabinet Secretary.

Earlier, Mr Guy called on the Ombudsman to investigate Mr Herbert’s use of taxpayer-funded cars.

“We are dealing with the integrity of government. We are dealing with a sense of entitlement that I think Victorians are disgusted with,” he said.

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