A Melbourne City Councillor Has Resigned Citing “Repeated Sexual Harassment”
A complaint has reportedly been made against a senior male member of council.
UPDATE: It has emerged that Sullivan has made a formal complaint against Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, alleging sexual harassment and indecent assault. You can find more on that story here.
—
Melbourne city councillor Tessa Sullivan has tendered her resignation, after alleging that she and other women were the victims of “repeated sexual harassment” in the workplace.
According to multiple reports, Sullivan resigned from the council on Friday afternoon. In response to a request for comment by The Age, council media manager Mandy Frostick issued a short statement on Sullivan’s behalf.
“Councillor Tessa Sullivan, a member of Team Doyle, tendered her resignation from council late on Friday, effective immediately,” the statement read. “Ms Sullivan stated that she had resigned after herself and other women had experienced repeated sexual harassment which had made their workplace intolerable.”
Meanwhile, The Herald Sun is reporting that a complaint has been made against “a male senior member of council”. The complaint apparently alleges “sexual harassment of at least one woman”.
A lawyer and qualified mediator in dispute resolution, Sullivan was elected to the council in November 2016.
Council CEO Ben Rimmer would not confirm the reason for Sullivan’s resignation, telling The Herald Sun “we will make a comment at the appropriate time”.
—
Feature image via City of Melbourne