The head of the Victorian and Tasmanian Aboriginal legal services has resigned following allegations of sexual assault and rape.
Wayne Muir, a Yorta Yorta and Barkinji man, has been chief executive of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) since 2011.
His resignation was announced on Thursday by the organisation’s board of directors.
Mr Muir had been "stood down" from the position on February 6 but it was not immediately clear if the decision was permanent or temporary.
It followed a report broadcast on the ABC’s 7.30 program featuring detailed allegations from four women which include rape, indecent assault and sexual harassment.
The incidents were alleged to have taken place between 1987 and 2003.
Two of the women were aged 14 when the incidents are alleged to have occurred.
Mr Muir apologised to one of the women for sexual harassment, but denied the other allegations describing them as false and defamatory.
He has been a central figure in Aboriginal justice groups in Victoria for more than 30 years.
In 2015, VALS took over the Aboriginal legal service contract from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre – which made Mr Muir the CEO of the legal service in both states.
“We want to reiterate that we are a community of people devoted to creating safe and just access to the supports and legal services upon which Aboriginal people rely,” the VALS board said.
“We acknowledge the hurt in our communities and will work with our people to understand the full impact of the issues raised.”
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