Bill Shorten has apologised after he was filmed texting while driving.
Video obtained by News Corp papers shows the Labor leader texting while driving along busy a Melbourne road, Kings Way.
Texting while driving is an offence that carries a fine of up to $443 and the loss of four demerit points in Victoria. Victoria police said in a statement on Twitter: “We are aware of reports of a public figure using a mobile while driving. It is expected the matter will be referred to local highway patrol.”
Shorten has acknowledged the incident, and vowed to pay the fine if approached by Victorian police. He said it had happened on a Sunday in August after he had dropped his children off at music practice.
“Like most drivers, I always try to do the right thing,” Shorten said in a statement. “But there’s no doubt that using your phone while driving is the wrong thing to do – there’s no excuse for it.
“I shouldn’t have done it and won’t do it again.”
Daniel Andrews, the Labor premier of Victoria, told ABC TV: “He did the wrong thing and he’s committed to not do it again. I don’t think you can ask much more than that.”
Christopher Pyne, the industry minister, told Nine Network that Shorten should keep “both hands on the wheel at all times and he won’t get in trouble”.
But the treasurer Scott Morrison told Radio 3AW he wasn’t about to “pile on” the issue, and that all politicians are human. “I’m the spending cop, not the traffic cop so I’ll leave those matters to the traffic cops.”
The video compounds a bad few weeks for the opposition leader, who last month admitted to sideswiping two cars in Carlton after dropping coffee in his lap while driving his car.
Shorten’s ratings as preferred prime minister are at an all-time low in this week’s Newspoll, slumping to just 14% to Malcolm Turnbull’s 60%. That 14% figure is matched only by Simon Crean, tying them for least popular Labor leader since Newspoll began.
