Calls for Victorian Minister Steve Herbert to resign over chauffeured pooches

MEET Patch and Ted. The pet dogs of Victorian Minister Steve Herbert were chauffeured 100km at the taxpayers’ expense.

Labor MP Steve Herbert's dogs Patch and Ted. Picture: Facebook

A VICTORIAN minister who used his taxpayer-funded car to chauffeur his dogs around the state should quit, the opposition says.

But Premier Daniel Andrews is standing by Corrections Minister Steve Herbert who ordered his driver to take his pooches, Patch and Ted, to and from his properties in Melbourne and country Victoria about 100km away.

Mr Andrews on Thursday admitted “the wrong thing has been done here”.

“(But) the minister’s been very clear about that — he’s apologised for it,” the premier told ABC radio.

“He’s indicated that he’s going to change his behaviour and that he won’t be doing it again.”

Corrections Minister Steve Herbert. Picture: Nigel Hallett

A spokesman for Mr Herbert on Wednesday night said: “The minister has apologised for the use of the ministerial car and has acknowledged it doesn’t meet community expectations.”

But Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says an apology is not enough.

“This minister should go. This minister has been caught rorting the system,” Mr Guy told reporters on Thursday.

The Liberal leader said Victorians stuck in gridlock or on crowded public transport would be outraged they were paying for an MP’s dogs to be chauffeured from Parkdale to Trentham.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet says it has not received a complaint from the minister’s driver.