Minister Steve Herbert was forced to issue an apology on Wednesday night for misusing the official car after he initially responded by saying he had  "no issue" with his driver being used to transport his dogs while he was not in the car.

"On reflection, this use of the ministerial car does not meet community expectations and I apologise," Mr Herbert said.

The Labor minister ordered his chauffeur to drive his two dogs, Ted and Patch, one-and-a-half hours between Parkdale and Trentham while he was at work, according to News Corp.

The chauffeur would then reportedly return to the city to pick up Mr Herbert and take him to Trentham to reunite him with his Jack Russell terriers.

It is not clear how many times the government car was misused.

Speaking on the use of taxpayer dollars in May 2014, Mr Herbert said it was essential funds were spent for the good of the public, not politicians.

"It is central to our democracy to have faith in the integrity of public office," Mr Herbert said.

"It is central to the public's faith that their taxpayer dollars are spent for the good of the public and not for the good of politicians, or their mates and friends."

At the time, Mr Herbert was referring to the controversy surrounding then-Premier Dennis Napthine over his connection to Colin McKenna, the founder of Midfield Meats, and a proposal to sell Crown land to the major Warrnambool food processor.

On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Mr Herbert's use of his ministerial car was "arrogant and ­totally out of touch".

"Most Melburnians are stuck in gridlocked roads and overcrowded trains. For a minister to use his limousine to chauffeur his pet dogs is outrageous," he said.

According to Victoria's ministerial code of conduct, ministers and parliamentary secretaries must "ensure they act with integrity" by "appropriate use of the resources available to their office for public purposes".

Last year, Bronwyn Bishop resigned as Speaker of the House of Representatives after it was revealed she had spent more than $5000 chartering a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.

Mrs Bishop paid back the money for the chopper ride - plus a 25 per cent penalty - and apologised for the "ridiculous" expense claim.

While Mr Herbert admitted misusing the ministerial car, reports that his chauffeur had made a complaint to her superiors about his behaviour were incorrect, the government spokesman said.

"As the Department of Premier and Cabinet had confirmed, no complaint has been made," the spokesman said.