A tearful Premier Jacinta Allan has revealed her husband, Yorick Piper, was stripped of his driver’s licence for drink-driving during a morning trip to the supermarket moments after a minor collision.
Allan said she was deeply embarrassed that her husband had recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.05 when he was intercepted in Bendigo shortly before 9am on Thursday.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her husband, Yorick Piper, at the NGV Gala in 2023.Credit: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images for NGV
“My husband, Yorick, was driving to the supermarket in Bendigo to pick up some groceries when he was pulled over for a random breath test,” Allan said.
“Physically, he’s OK as a result of yesterday. But yes, we’re embarrassed and shocked and most truly sorry for what has occurred here.”
Premier Jacinta Allan
“As a result of this test, he blew 0.05. He has, as a result, received an on-the-spot fine and lost his licence for three months.”
When asked if her husband suspected he might be over the limit, she replied that he was “incredibly shocked” as he had been going about his routine household duties, buying some groceries, unaware he was over the legal alcohol limit. She was also disappointed to learn of the news, she said.
“We’re shocked, deeply embarrassed as well,” she said.
“Physically, he’s OK … But yes, we’re embarrassed and shocked and most truly sorry for what has occurred here because drink-driving and road trauma are incredibly, incredibly serious.”
Allan said she and her family had been celebrating her son’s birthday at the local pub on Wednesday evening and headed home around 8pm.
“My husband is also currently taking medication for a health issue, and as a result of the medication mixing with the alcohol from the night before, he simply shouldn’t have been driving the following morning,” she said.
Allan said there was no excuse. “He understands that. I understand that, and for this, we are both truly sorry.”
Jacinta Allan revealed her husband had been caught drink driving.Credit: Joe Armao
Piper had been involved in a bingle shortly before his random breath test, having “bumped into” the car in front of him when it came to a stop at an intersection at about 8.45am on Thursday.
“Both he and the other driver were not injured, and given it was a minor collision, they – both drivers – shared details, shared information, exchanged details after stopping, and both continued on their way,” the premier said.
He continued on to the supermarket and was then stopped by police for the random breath test just before 9am.
Allan said her family would be covering the cost of repairs to the other car, which has a minor dent, and that they had made a $1000 donation to road safety charity Amber Community.
Piper’s licence suspension will come into effect from January 16.
“I hope this can be a powerful lesson,” Allan said. “If there’s a lesson to be learned here, the lesson is don’t get behind the wheel. At this time of year when there’s a lot of activities, a lot of festive cheer going on, please do not get behind the wheel.”
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