Opposition Leader Bill Shorten made a public apology after violating road rules by using his mobile phone while driving.

Shorten was caught on video driving along Kings Way in the CBD while holding his phone with both hands in August . The video was filmed by a fellow motorist and obtained by The Herald Sun.

"Like most drivers, I always try to do the right thing," Shorten said."But there's no doubt that using your phone while driving is the wrong thing to do — there's no excuse for it."

Shorten said he did not remember if he was texting or why he was using his phone. He has coordinated with the Victorian police and is willing to accept the consequences that comes along with the violation, telling reporters, "I shouldn't have done it and won't do it again." He added, "No one is above the law."

During this drive, Shorten had just dropped his children off for music practice.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese came into defence of Shorten, saying, "Bill has said exactly that, that he did the wrong thing, that he won't do it again."

Industry Minister Christopher Pyne also commented on the incident. "My strong advice to Bill is to keep both his hands on the wheel at all times and then he's not going to get into any trouble," he told Channel Nine.

He added, "But obviously I sympathise with him because obviously things aren't going very well for him."

Using a mobile phone while driving has a fine of $455 and four demerit points. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer told 9 News that Shorten’s incident was an opportunity to highlight the dangers of driving while distracted.

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