By Luke Voogt
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has refused to immediately sack Geelong-based MP Simon Ramsay, who blew almost four times the legal limit behind the wheel.
Police busted the Member for Western Victoria driving with a blood alcohol level of .19 on Saturday night at Barwon Heads.
Mr Ramsay was driving from a football game in Barwon Heads when police stopped him for the breath test.
He rang the Liberal Party leader to resign from his position as shadow parliamentary secretary following the incident.
“I’ve accepted it immediately,” Mr Guy said at a press conference on Monday.
But Mr Guy refused to speculate on Mr Ramsay’s future as an MP despite multiple questions on the subject.
He said speculating on Mr Ramsay’s future before speaking in-person to him would be unfair.
“I haven’t had a face to face conversation with him albeit I’ve had a number of telephone conversations with him over the last 24 hours,” he said.
He expected to speak to Mr Ramsay in the next 24 to 48 hours when parliament resumes, he said.
“I will again express my anger, disappointment and frustration that he would drink drive, let alone drink drive to that extent.”
But excluding Mr Ramsay’s possible resignation as an MP, he would likely remain the Member for Western Victoria until the next election, Mr Guy admitted.
“With 17 weeks including four weeks of caretaker (remaining) I think that… he is here ’til the election,” he said.
“If he will contest the election is what we will discuss.”
Mr Guy said the high-range drink driving would make many Victorians very angry, especially emergency workers or those who had experienced road trauma.
“Drink driving is incredibly dangerous and there is no excuse for it.”
Mr Guy said the courts should make an example of Mr Ramsay given his status as an MP.
“As a sitting member of parliament to do this… leaves me very angry.
“There is a special responsibility when you’re talking about drink driving laws.”
But Mr Ramsay immediately admitting his wrongdoing, Mr Guy said.
“He’s paid a very high price for it and frankly so he should.”
He admitted Mr Ramsay losing his licence would affect his ability to operate as upper house member covering all of western Victoria.
The Indy phoned Mr Ramsay for comment, but he did not answer or return calls on Monday afternoon.
If Mr Ramsay resigns his seat the Liberals will have 13 members in the upper house compared to Labor’s 14.
