Top Catholic mandarin Stephen Elder in workplace stoush

Catholic Education Melbourne’s executive director is facing an investigation into an unsubstantiated workplace complaint.

Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Stephen Elder. Picture: Kym Smith.

Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Stephen Elder is on leave pending an investigation into an unsubstantiated workplace complaint.

The church wrote to its educators and parish priests last week saying that a CEM senior executive, Jim Miles, was acting as executive director in Mr Elder’s absence.

The church has hired external consultants to assess the complaint as part of a pro-forma ­response to a workplace issue.

The Archdiocese of Melbourne released a statement last night acknowledging Mr Elder’s right to the presumption of innocence. It has not detailed what the complaint relates to.

“The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne acknowledges that Stephen Elder will be absent from the office for a period of time while an internal complaint associated with workplace matters is examined,’’ it said.

“An investigation of this complaint is being carried out by external professionals who have been engaged to ensure the process is objective, fair, independent and accountable.

“The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne firmly upholds the presumption of innocence while the complaint is investigated and repudiates any speculation about it. In the interests of ensuring an independent and fair process, and to protect the good name and reputation of those involved, no further comment will be made.’’

The Australian is not suggesting that Mr Elder engaged in any misconduct, only that a complaint has been made and is being investigated.

Mr Elder is the highest profile Catholic educator in Australia, having been credited with attracting more than $4 billion worth of extra federal funding after battling for two years with the federal government over its socio-­economic status formula.

As other church leaders refused to take on the government, Mr Elder continued the fight against a system that was found to be inherently biased against Catholic schools.

This led to a new system ­announced by Education Minister Dan Tehan that delivered billions of dollars of extra funding.

Mr Elder, a former Victorian Liberal MP, faced stiff criticism from sections of the church over the relentless campaign he waged. He attracted enemies within the church as a result of the campaign.

Mr Elder said in a statement yesterday that he was awaiting the outcome of the church’s ­inquiries. “There’s a process currently in place. I have to trust that that process is fair and transparent and wait for the outcome,’’ the statement said.