Former lord mayor Robert Doyle is sorry for no one but himself

There should be no path of redemption for a man who spent three years calling his accusers liars.

In an excruciating, self-serving, offensive interview, disgraced former Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has said sorry to his three female victims.

His victims are well-respected women, but that didn’t stop him spending the last three years calling them liars by denying their claims.

So we shouldn’t care about anything he says now.

There should be no path of redemption for a man like Doyle.

His interview with radio host Neil Mitchell on 3AW made it clear the only thing he is sorry about is the loss of his public reputation.

The interview was meant to be about the three women who accused him of sexual misconduct, so why did he start every sentence with “I”?

It’s telling Doyle was supposedly too ill to speak to investigators from the City of Melbourne or Melbourne Health over the past three years, even though he was spotted around town wining and dining.

But he was well enough to speak to Mitchell, telling him: “I see the need to say sorry … I’ve listened, I’ve heard you.”

Critically, Doyle said he had learned “my actions have consequences” but he shied away from labelling those actions.

Former Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle at the Town Hall in 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

Not once did he acknowledge he was guilty of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual misconduct. Not once did he specify the wrong he’d done; he just dismissed his behaviour as “ugly” and “reprehensible”. I’d prefer to adopt the words of one of his investigators, Charles Scerri QC, who called his actions “serious misconduct of a sexual nature” along with rude, obnoxious and sleazy.

Doyle still hasn’t specifically acknowledged touching a colleague’s breast or thigh or trying to kiss her was wrong. Nor did he acknowledge inappropriately touching a woman he barely knew at a function was wrong.

Doyle wasn’t just self-important and arrogant, as he’s claimed; he was a grubby sleaze whose predatory behaviour affected the wellbeing, mental health and reputations of his victims.

He said people had been hurt, but not once did he admit his behaviour since the accusations were made public made that hurt so much worse.

Not only did he strongly deny he’d done anything wrong — thus effectively calling his female accusers liars — but he repeatedly refused to co-operate with investigators.

Investigators’ efforts were hampered by Doyle’s unwillingness to respond to allegations despite being sent extensive correspondence. This greatly upset and frustrated his complainants, and made it harder for the police, who closed a two-year investigation due to lack of evidence.

Kharla Williams was one of the several women to accuse former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle of sexual assault. She has slammed council for keeping her in the dark on the final report into the matter, released this week. Picture: Sarah Matray

Mr Scerri found the woman who complained about his behaviour at a Melbourne Health function was an “honest and sincere witness and had no reason to lie about these matters”.

“Indeed, the whole experience, including the investigation, has caused her enormous distress,” he said in March.

Why wasn’t Doyle shedding tears for her back then?

The investigations took much longer and were more taxing on the complainants because of Doyle’s complete silence — supposedly on the grounds of ill health.

The women were also attacked by a coterie of Doyle allies who thought he was badly treated.

Those standing up for him included his ex-wife Emma Page Campbell who said the allegations “have been made in an environment in which guilt is presumed over innocence, and where there is little regard for the irreversible damage that can cause to reputation, character and legacy”.

Three years on, and Doyle appears to have had time to heal — which is more than the three women thrust into the limelight by his actions have had.

Often talking in the third person, Doyle detailed in Monday’s interview he had lost family, love, relationships, friendships, his health, respect and his reputation.

But he admitted he still had family and friends and was trying to be a better father and partner.

The key to why he finally scraped together the courage to speak out came towards the end of the interview.

He wants to do good in the community — something to benefit others. Yes, of course he does. Don’t they all?

Sorry, but it’s too little too late.

Offering to co-operate fully with authorities in any investigations, fully acknowledging what he’s done and staying out of the media is what Doyle needs to do now.

He says he’s trying to be a better man, but his best is still not good enough.