Politics · Australia · 24 mins ago
Victoria Premier Ben Carroll says he forgot to pay for petrol
Victoria Premier Ben Carroll left a petrol station without paying after filling his car late on Monday night.
He said he forgot to pay and settled the bill as soon as he found out.
Police contacted him on Tuesday, and he returned to the service station to pay.
Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush said an accidental drive-off was generally treated as a civil matter, rather than a crime, unless evidence showed otherwise.
No further action is expected in Carroll’s case.
The incident drew attention because former premier Jacinta Allan had said earlier this year that petrol station drive-offs were increasing and were illegal.
Her comments came amid concern about fuel theft, including at farms and in rural communities.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said he forgot to pay for petrol after filling his car late on Monday night.
He said he discovered the mistake the following day and paid the bill straight away.
Carroll said he had been busy responding to briefings about an attack that critically injured independent MP Helen Haines.
Police contacted the Department of Parliamentary Services about the unpaid fuel, which then notified Carroll.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said an accidental petrol drive-off is a civil matter unless proven otherwise.
- Who
- Victorian Premier Ben Carroll.
- What
- He drove away from a petrol station without paying for fuel, then settled the bill.
- When
- Late Monday night; he learned of the mistake the following day.
- Where
- At a petrol station near his home in his electorate of Niddrie, according to the Guardian.
- Why
- Carroll said he forgot to pay while running errands after a busy day. He had been responding to briefings about an attack on MP Helen Haines.
Ben Carroll and Police Commissioner Mike Bush
Former premier Jacinta Allan
Characterisation
Ben Carroll and Police Commissioner Mike Bush
Carroll said he forgot to pay, and Bush said an accidental drive-off is a civil matter unless proven otherwise.
Former premier Jacinta Allan
Allan said drive-offs are illegal and should be prosecuted.
Response
Ben Carroll and Police Commissioner Mike Bush
Carroll said he paid the bill straight away. Bush said civil redress had been made.
Former premier Jacinta Allan
Allan said police were closely monitoring drive-offs and responding to the issue.
Carroll filled his car with petrol and drove away without paying.
Police contacted the Department of Parliamentary Services about the unpaid fuel, and Carroll learned of the mistake.
Carroll said he had paid the bill, and Police Commissioner Mike Bush described an accidental drive-off as a civil matter unless proven otherwise.
- Premier
- Ben Carroll
- Fuel bill
- Paid straight away
- Petrol station location
- Near Carroll’s home in the electorate of Niddrie
- Incident time
- Late Monday night
- Police commissioner
- Mike Bush
- MP injured in attack
- Helen Haines
6 sources
Victorian premier repays bill after forgetting to pay at petrol station
Victorian premier forgets to pay for fuel
‘I forgot to pay’: Victoria’s premier Ben Carroll drives off without paying for petrol, sparking police inquiries
Premier Ben Carroll admits driving off without paying for fuel after servo alerts police
What people are saying
I fixed the bill straight away.
It shows that politicians are human beings, and even premiers make mistakes.
If someone does something accidentally, non-deliberately, it becomes a very civil matter
We are seeing a rise in incidents of drive-offs at service stations, and it is an illegal practice