Victorian MP Tim Smith has apologised and resigned from the shadow cabinet after crashing his car while more than twice over the legal blood-alcohol limit.
Key points:
- Tim Smith returned a breath test reading of 0.131 after being taken to a police station
- In a statement, he said he believed he was under the legal limit when he left a dinner on Saturday night
- He issued an apology to his constituents, colleagues, family and the people of Victoria
Mr Smith, who until Sunday held the shadow attorney-general portfolio, apologised for the "serious error of judgement".
Victoria Police confirmed officers responded to reports a car had collided with another vehicle on Power Street in Hawthorn before crashing into a fence about 8:55pm.
In a statement, Mr Smith said he believed he was under the legal limit to drive home after dinner with friends, but "this was not the case".
"I was breath-tested and returned a positive reading," he said in a statement.
He returned an evidentiary breath test reading of 0.131.
"I have been fined under the Road Safety Act and my licence has been suspended for 12 months," he said in a statement.
"I apologise to my constituents, my colleagues, my family and the people of Victoria who expect their elected representatives to uphold the highest standards of behaviour."
No-one was injured in the incident, police said.
The Liberal MP for Kew said he tendered his resignation from shadow cabinet to Opposition Leader Matthew Guy on Saturday.
In response to the incident, Mr Guy said: "I remain exceedingly angry and disappointed with Tim Smith's actions and have conveyed my thoughts to him in no uncertain terms."
David Southwick will add the Finance portfolio to his responsibilities, while Matt Bach will be appointed as Shadow Attorney-General.
Mr Smith was elevated to the shadow attorney-general position in September after Mr Guy took over the leadership in a spill.
Prior to that, he was shadow planning minister.