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Police Contact Bill Shorten Over Driving, "Texting" Video

Bill The Dill: Shorten Admits To 'Mistake' Of Using His Phone While Driving
Fairfax/Alex Ellinghausen

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has landed himself in hot water with Victorian police after he was filmed apparently using his mobile phone while driving.

Victoria Police tweeted on Friday they had contacted Mr Shorten's office after reports of the video came in and had turned the matter over to local police.

Earlier Mr Shorten said he was cooperating with police and had spoken with them.

“I made a mistake," he said at a press conference on Friday morning.

“There’s no good excuse so I won’t make one.

“But there’s no doubt that using your phone while driving is the wrong thing to do -- there’s no excuse for it. I shouldn’t have done it and won’t do it again.”

He had reportedly just dropped his children off at music practice when the video was captured. He said he could not rule out he was texting at the time.

The penalty for using a mobile phone while driving is a $443 fine and four demerit points.

In mid-November Shorten sideswiped two parked cars after apparently spilling scalding hot coffee on his lap.

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