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Victoria’s Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says he is “exceedingly angry” at a state Liberal MP who was caught drink driving over the weekend and has asked him to consider his future in parliament.
Upper House member for Western Victoria, Simon Ramsay, was stopped by police in Barwon Heads, on the Bellarine Peninsula, about 11:30pm Saturday after his car was seen crossing onto the wrong side of the road.
Mr Ramsay returned a positive breath test and was taken to a police station where he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.191 per cent, almost four times the legal limit.
Mr Guy said he accepted Mr Ramsay’s resignation from his position as shadow assistant minister for agriculture.
“Drink driving is incredibly dangerous and there is no excuse for it,” Mr Guy said.
“He offered his resignation as a shadow assistant minister which I immediately accepted and asked him to over the next few days reflect upon his future going forward as a member of parliament beyond the 2018 election.
Senior Liberals have told the ABC Mr Ramsay’s position is untenable.
Mr Guy said he would speak to Mr Ramsay over the next 24 hours.
Photo: Matthew Guy says there is no excuse for drink driving. (AAP: Joe Castro, file photo)“I will have a face-to-face conversation with him either later today or tomorrow and I will again express my anger, disappointment and frustration that he would drink-drive, let alone drink-drive to that extent,” he said.
“I accept that everyone mucks up in life, I accept everyone makes mistakes but as a sitting member of parliament to do this leaves me very angry and it would leave many Victorians very angry.
“Particularly those who have dealt with road trauma and particularly those in emergency services who pick up the pieces from those who drink drive.”
Premier Daniel Andrews did not take a position on whether Mr Ramsay should leave parliament when asked today.
“That’s entirely a matter for him,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“He’s fronted this. He’s said that he got this wrong and it’s going to haunt him for a long time. I think that’s the appropriate thing.
“He’s resigned his position, that is his junior ministry position. Beyond that I’m not interested in making a very difficult time for him any worse than it is.
“Hopefully everyone sees it as yet another example – don’t drink and drive.”
Mr Ramsay’s licence has been suspended and he will be charged on summons with drink driving offences.
Topics: state-parliament, parliament, government-and-politics, melbourne-3000, vic, horsham-3400
