A visibly emotional state premier has apologised after her husband was caught drink-driving, saying she is deeply shocked and embarrassed by the incident.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said her husband, Yorick Piper, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.05 after being pulled over for a random breath test on Thursday morning while driving to a supermarket in Bendigo.
He was issued an on-the-spot fine and will lose his licence for three months from January 16.
Allan said the couple had celebrated their son’s birthday at a local pub the night before and returned home at about 8pm. She said her husband has been taking medication for a health issue and should not have been driving after consuming alcohol.
“I was deeply shocked, disappointed and embarrassed,” she told reporters on Friday.
The couple has since made a $1000 donation to the Amber Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that provides road incident support and education for road users.
Allan said drink-driving and road trauma were extremely serious issues.
“We recognise that and I am truly sorry,” the Bendigo East MP said.
Earlier that morning, Piper had been involved in a minor collision when traffic came to a stop at an intersection. Details were exchanged and both drivers continued on their way.
The couple will cover the cost of damage to the other vehicle.
“It was a little bit further up the road towards Bendigo where Victoria Police had established a roadside breath testing operation where they were waving vehicles in three at a time,” Allan said.
“He was waved in as part of that and, quite clearly, was quite willing to submit to a breath test.”
The incident is not the first time a Victorian Labor leader has faced scrutiny over a spousal driving matter.
In 2013, then-opposition leader Daniel Andrews’ wife, Catherine Andrews, was driving his taxpayer-funded vehicle with their three children inside when it collided with 15-year-old Ryan Meuleman on the Mornington Peninsula.
The teenager was taken to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries.
Ms Andrews was not breath-tested, with then police commissioner Graham Ashton later conceding officers had “mucked up”.
No charges were laid and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission cleared police of wrongdoing.
Mr Andrews told reporters in 2017 the cyclist had been travelling at speed before being T-boned by the car.
Meuleman, who has since become known as “Bike Boy”, filed a lawsuit in November against the couple in the Federal Court.
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