Victoria Premier Ben Carroll paid an outstanding fuel bill after police followed up on his visit to a service station, prompting the state’s police chief to explain when a drive-off may be treated as a crime.
Carroll said Wednesday that he filled his car while running errands late Monday and learned Tuesday that he had left without paying. He returned to settle the bill and thanked the station’s staff for their understanding.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that police contacted the Department of Parliamentary Services, which then notified Carroll about the unpaid bill.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said an accidental drive-off is generally a civil matter unless evidence establishes criminal intent. Station operators can pursue payment through civil channels, he said, while acknowledging that unpaid fuel can hurt their businesses.
Carroll said he had spent Monday evening on calls. Earlier that day, he had responded to the vehicle strike on federal lawmaker Helen Haines in Victoria.
In March, Carroll’s predecessor, Jacinta Allan, raised concerns about an increase in illegal fuel drive-offs. Bush said police take care to distinguish mistakes from deliberate failures to pay.
