A Victorian minister dogged by an expenditure scandal involving his pampered pooches has defended using $113,000 of taxpayers' money for travel.
Steve Herbert - the corrections, training and international education minister - has been on four overseas trips with a staff member since April last year, government documents show.
A 13-day trip to Brazil, Colombia and Peru in April and May last year for an "education mission" cost almost $39,000, while a June-July jaunt this year to China to "build government to government relations and promote the interests of Victoria's education sector" cost $30,344.
In May and June last year, a Malaysia and Singapore visit cost $23,000, while a tour of Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia to also "build government to government relations and promote the capacity of Victoria's education sector" cost $20,908.
Mr Herbert, who was last week forced to apologise for using his car to chauffeur his dogs Patch and Ted between his homes in Parkdale and Trentham, said the international education sector was worth $5.8 billion to Victoria's economy.
"You can't run a portfolio that involves significant international partnerships from an office in Melbourne," he said on Sunday.
"We make no apology for growing our largest services export by visiting countries, meeting government officials and leaders in education to create new partnerships."
The MP was also forced to update his register of interests to declare ownership of the Trentham home, which is his principal place of residence, after questions were raised.
The opposition on Sunday said Mr Herbert's ongoing expenses saga had reached ridiculous levels.
"Steve Hebert needs to go," said the coalition's roads spokesman Ryan Smith.
He said Premier Daniel Andrews cannot ignore his minister's conduct and reiterated calls for him to act.
"Daniel Andrews is very good at setting standards for others - he needs to step back and set those standards for himself."
