The head of one of Victoria’s most prominent industry groups has resigned after allegedly making racially insensitive jokes at a gala dinner in June.
The statement went on to say that the council provided support to staff and to Hunter “and maintained confidential processes in accordance with our robust policies and procedures” Council chief executive Ken Morrison wrote to property companies affiliated to the peak body arguing it was “completely inaccurate” to suggest that the complaint was handled slowly or inappropriately. However, he admitted it would have been optimal to communicate with member organisations before media outlets reported the incident.
There has been a considerable staff turnover at the Victorian branch recently, including the departure of two of Hunter’s deputy executive directors to rival organisations. The turnover is unrelated to Hunter’s comments. Her relationship with the Andrews government deteriorated during the pandemic when she was a forceful critic of some government lockdown policies that contributed to financial losses for the council’s member companies deprived of rental income as people worked from home.