Victoria premier Ben Carroll admits to unintentionally leaving a petrol station without paying

Ben Carroll, the premier of Victoria, disclosed that he unintentionally left a service station without paying for petrol after filling his car near his Niddrie electorate on Monday night. The oversight was discovered the next day when police, who had been trying to locate him, contacted him through the Department of Parliamentary Services. Carroll returned to the station, paid the bill, and expressed gratitude to the staff for their understanding.

Police commissioner Mike Bush said the incident is treated as a civil matter unless proven otherwise, emphasizing that accidental non-payment should not be criminalised. The premier also referenced a similar anecdote from former deputy premier John Thwaites to illustrate that politicians can make simple errors. No additional penalties or investigations are anticipated, and the case is expected to close without further action.