The branch secretary of South Australia's teachers' union has resigned, following accusations she stole from a business in the state's south-east.
Leah York was caught on camera in a Mount Gambier shop appearing to stuff a handbag and an orange top into a shopping bag.
Ms York yesterday resigned from her position on the board of state government investment agency Funds SA.
Today, the Australian Education Union (AEU) released a statement saying she would step down from her position, effective from close of business today.
The union had been planning to hold a meeting of its executive tonight.
Ms York had been in Mount Gambier for a briefing session on the AEU's enterprise bargaining negotiations.
Security video emerged yesterday showing her allegedly shoplifting from a local business called Lima & Co.
Ms York initially told The Advertiser newspaper there had been a misunderstanding, after she paid for a different item and then had to quickly leave the shop to go to the toilet.
"I thought I had prepaid for the bag," she told The Advertiser.
The business then reviewed vision from earlier in the day and found footage apparently showing Ms York taking an orange top.
"This footage speaks volumes. You have impacted our staff greatly," it posted on Facebook.
Ms York could not be contacted yesterday.
Police say the matter had been reported to them and they were investigating.
Union working to replace secretary
In a statement today, the AEU's South Australian branch said it was "in the process of determining interim arrangements to fill the branch secretary position in accordance with the branch rules".
"An election to fill the casual vacancy will be held and conducted by the AEC following regular Registered Organization [sic] Commission processes," it said.
"The interests of AEU members remain our focus during this time.
"There will be no further comment from the AEU or any member of staff on this matter at this time."
Opposition education spokesman John Gardner had earlier this morning called for Ms York to resign.
"That's the best course of action for her members, for herself and for public education in South Australia," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
"The explanation that has been given in relation to the first incident is clearly inadequate when combined with the second video that was released yesterday," he added.
"It would need an extraordinary explanation to talk it away."
Premier Peter Malinauskas yesterday called the incident "peculiar" and said Ms York would have to "explain and account" for her actions.
