A Victorian minister who used his taxpayer-funded car to chauffeur his dogs while he was at work couldn't say how many times the "mistake" happened.  Corrections Minister Steve Herbert's dogs Patch and Ted were ferried more than 120 kilometres between his homes in Melbourne and country Victoria.  He told reporters the dog-only trips happened "a couple of times".  But he earlier told the Herald Sun newspaper he had "not the foggiest" idea how many times it had happened.  And the corrections minister didn't answer direct questions later in parliament, where pet dogs are not allowed.  "I made a mistake in trying to look after the dogs because of problems I had with my timetabling, my schedule," the Labor minister told reporters on Thursday.  "Being a minister in the senior portfolios, it's a tough job, it's a really tough job.  "And sometimes you make mistakes and this was one of them."  Mr Herbert said he had "needed to do something about the dogs" because his job had played "havoc" with his domestic arrangements.  "I couldn't leave them and I had few options," he said, without giving details.  The dogs were ferried between Mr Herbert's homes in Parkdale in Melbourne's southeast and Trentham, 120 northwest, while he was at work.  Mr Herbert, who is paid at least $280,000 a year, says he has now made other "domestic arrangements" for the care of Patch and Ted.  He did not give details.  It's been reported Mr Herbert's former driver has lodged a complaint against him but the minister denies raising his voice against her.  "It's always difficult with drivers, we're in the car long times with them, I only wish (her) the best," he said.  Opposition leader Matthew Guy argued Mr Herbert's apology wasn't good enough.  "This minister should go. This minister has been caught out rorting the system," Mr Guy told reporters.  But Premier Daniel Andrews stood by Mr Herbert while acknowledging he did the wrong thing.  "The minister's been very clear about that - he's apologised for it," the premier told ABC radio.  "He's indicated that he's going to change his behaviour and that he won't be doing it again."  Mr Herbert insisted there'd been no rorting and he was happy to repay the cost of the petrol used to ferry the pooches from Parkdale to Trentham.  Mr Andrews later backed Mr Herbert during a rowdy Question Time, rejecting calls for him to be sacked.  The premier told parliament the minister's driver had not lodged a complaint.  "No complaint has been made," Mr Andrews said.  "If one were made then it would be properly and appropriately investigated."  Ministerial drivers meanwhile were called in for a meeting on Thursday morning after the pooches scandal.
A Victorian MP is in hot water over reports he ordered his driver to chauffeur his pet dogs to and from his country house while he was at work in the city.