Geoffrey Rush has stepped down as AACTA's president, following recent allegations against him of inappropriate behaviour.
The Oscar-winning actor denies the allegations which have been reported by News Corp to have allegedly occurred during a Sydney Theatre Company production of King Lear in 2015.
Rush has been the president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards from its beginnings in 2011, when it replaced the AFIA Awards, and was expected to appear at the annual ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday.
He has also hosted the awards on several occasions.
Rush said in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday that he would be stepping down as president "effective immediately and until these issues have been resolved".
AACTA said it accepted and respected Rush's decision to voluntarily step aside.
"We have been deeply concerned about the situation and support a course of action that both respects Geoffrey's rights to the presumption of innocence and due process, but also acknowledges good corporate governance in these circumstances," AACTA said in a statement.
"We will not be making any further comment at this time."
