Board members resign from VEOHRC
Law academic and marriage equality advocate Paula Gerber has tendered her resignation from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC), along with four other board members.
The Age reported the board members left after state Attorney-General Robert Clark vetoed their unanimous choice for a commissioner.
The head job has remained vacant since former equal opportunity commissioner Helen Szoke left almost a year ago.
Gerber, an associate professor of international human rights at Monash University, was appointed to the board in 2009 under Labor Attorney-General Rob Hulls.
She has published articles about LGBTI rights including marriage equality and same-sex adoption.
Other board members who have walked out include Richmond Football Club CEO Brendon Gale and business owner Carolyn Creswell.
The only board member left is chairman John Searle.
In a statement to the Attorney-General, three of the board members said their departure left the commission without a functioning board.
While it’s unclear who the board’s unanimous choice for commissioner was, The Age reported some of the shortlisted candidates included acting commissioner Karen Toohey, ACT human rights commissioner Helen Watchirs and leading community lawyer Hugh de Kretser.
The VEOHRC was embroiled in controversy last month when board member Professor Kuruvilla George resigned after publicly opposing marriage equality.
