Victorian Liberal MP Tim Smith says he will not resign from politics but is taking some time to “reflect on his career” after crashing his car into a family home, narrowly avoiding a child’s bedroom.
Smith claims he only had a few glasses of wine at a friend’s house before deciding to drive home on Saturday night but he returned a blood-alcohol reading of more than twice the legal limit after crashing into a Hawthorn house in Melbourne’s east.
Speaking to reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday, Smith said it was the “worst decision of his life” and he had spoken to his doctor.
“I’m not (mentally) unwell. I’m an idiot,” he said.
“I’m incredible regretful of what’s occurred.”
The MP for Kew returned a breath test reading of 0.131, prompting the immediate suspension of his licence for 12 months. Once touted as a future premier, Smith resigned as shadow attorney general after the crash.
Victoria’s opposition leader, Matthew Guy, has asked the 38-year-old to resign before the next election. Smith is also expected to be fined by police.
Smith dodged questions that he has been asked to directly not to re-contest the next election, saying Guy only asked him to “reflect on my career”.
“Matthew has made it very clear, as he has done on several occasions, that I should reflect on my career,” he said.
“I’m not going to go into private conversations with a very good friend of mine.”
Smith said he was not aware of how intoxicated he was because he had not eaten much that day.
“As a consequence, I blew much more than I ever thought I had consumed. I’m not offering any excuses,” he said.
He claimed he had only drunk “a few glasses” of wine at the dinner with friends.
“It’s selfish, it’s stupid, I’ve been fined, I’ve lost my licence for a year. I profoundly messed up in a life-altering way. I can’t take that back and I’m not trying to.
“It was an appalling lapse of judgment.”
Smith said he has spoken to his GP about his alcohol consumption and has vowed not to drink again while he remains in public life.
“I’m never touching a drop again,” he said.
When asked if he had a drinking problem, Smith said he had drunk too much over the course of the pandemic.
“I think like a lot of blokes my age – and please don’t construe this as an excuse – who live on their own over the last 18 months have drunk too much,” he said.
On Tuesday, Guy said he had told Smith he would not be re-appointed to the frontbench and urged him not to contest the 2022 state election.
“I made it very clear to Tim that he wouldn’t find his way on to the frontbench of any parliamentary Liberal party that I lead,” Guy told reporters.
“And I made it clear that I didn’t want him to nominate at the next election and that I didn’t believe he should nominate for the seat of Kew.
“Tim has, and will, reflect on my advice to him. He will then make a statement in his own time. I hope sooner rather than later.”
Smith has been one of Guy’s closest political allies and was instrumental in his return to the leadership of the Liberal party after a successful spill against Michael O’Brien in September.
With Australian Associated Press
