Tom Elliott says Tim Smith was ‘extraordinarily stupid’ but shouldn’t lose career

Tom Elliott says Liberal MP Tim Smith, who resigned from shadow cabinet in disgrace after being caught drink-driving, did an “extraordinary stupid thing” but should not lose his political career.

The former Shadow Attorney-General is facing intense pressure to resign from parliament after he smashed into a Hawthorn home on his way home from a dinner with friends on Saturday night.

He returned an evidentiary breath test reading of 0.131.

“Politicians are just like normal people, they make mistakes,” Tom said on 3AW Drive.

“They have affairs, they get divorced, they break the speed limit, sometimes – and he’s not the first one – they get done for drink-driving.

“Now it’s a terrible thing to do, it puts other people in danger, but should it mean the end of your professional career – I don’t think so.”

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