Vic Equal Opportunity Commissioner quits

The head of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has quit, with the opposition accusing the government of trashing some of her key achievements.
Dr Helen Szoke, who became commissioner in 2009, stood down on Tuesday after more than six years with the organisation. It's understood she will announce her next career move on Wednesday.
Commission acting chair Michael Gorton said milestones such as the introduction of the charter of human rights and the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 had marked Dr Szoke's time as commissioner.
"Her energy and passionate commitment to reducing discrimination and inequality are the bedrock on which many of the commission's recent achievements have been built," he said in a statement.
The coalition government this year controversially reversed changes that were due to come into effect under Labor's 2010 equal opportunity law, meaning faith-based organisations can continue to discriminate on grounds such as religion, sexuality and marital status.
"Every day I have been inspired and rewarded by the dedication, intellect, professionalism and commitment of people from all walks of life, who seek to overcome inequality and achieve fairness and justice for others," Dr Szoke said in a statement.
Acting shadow attorney-general Jill Hennessy said it was concerning that her resignation was one of a series under the coalition government, following the departures of former Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Rapke and former Victoria Police Commissioner Simon Overland.
"Dr Szoke has presided over some really great advances in equal opportunity and it must be difficult to watch the Baillieu government trash those," she told AAP.
"What I think is more concerning is that we continue to see the heads of more statutory bodies ... resign, in inverted commas."
It was expected the commission would appoint an acting commissioner while a replacement for Dr Szoke is found, Attorney-General Robert Clark said.
A spokesman for Mr Clark said Ms Hennessy's comments were untrue.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy called on Dr Szoke to resign in 2008, when he was in opposition, accusing her of politicising her role.
He told parliament at the time Dr Szoke had written a letter to the editor of the Warrnambool Standard criticising Liberal MP David Koch for speaking against a bill establishing a relationships register for same sex or de-facto couples.
"I should take the time to advise Mr Koch that he should write to Ms Szoke's local paper and claim she is a militant socialist, a zealot, a left-wing Trotskyite and mini-me to the attorney-general - all without seeking to conciliate with her first," Mr Guy told parliament.
"If Ms Szoke's view of conciliation is public humiliation, then she is unsuitable for her current role, and frankly it is a disgrace that she holds this role."
Mr Guy went on to call Dr Szoke an intolerant bully.
A spokeswoman said Mr Guy was unavailable to comment on Tuesday as he was on leave.