Aussie Opposition Leader apologizes after illegally using phone while driving

Australia's Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has publicly apologized on Friday, after a motorist released footage of him illegally using his phone while driving overnight.

Shorten fronted the media after he was made aware of a video which shows him using his phone while on the road -- something carries a heavy penalty in Australia.

He said there was no excuse for blatantly breaking the rules.

"Like most drivers, I always try to do the right thing," Shorten told the media following the revelation.

"But there's no doubt that using your phone while driving is the wrong thing to do -- there's no excuse for it.

"I shouldn't have done it and won't do it again."

The witness who filmed Shorten said the opposition leader was "driving all over the place", insisting that Shorten was not only using the device while stationary at a red light, but also while driving.

"He's one of our leaders ... he should be setting an example," the witness told News Corp on Friday.

Driver caught by police using a mobile phone can be slapped with a fine of up to 330 U.S dollars, and be given up to four demerit points. If a driver accrues 12 demerit points, they could lose their license for up to a year.

However, this wasn't the first incident which involved Shorten on Australia's roads; last month he was found to clip a number of parked cars whilst driving after he spilled hot coffee over his lap.

The latest incident involving the opposition leader follows news this week that Shorten has just 14 percent of the votes for preferred prime minister, the lowest ever approval rating for a Labor leader. Endit