Wendy Tuohy: sexual harassment furore not all about ‘bloodhounds’ hunting over-friendly men

IT’S time public figures like Jeff Kennett stopped viewing women who make harassment claims as ‘bloodhounds’ hunting friendly men and started treating the claims of each side with equal respect, writes Wendy Tuohy.

I DO hope Jeff Kennett had his radio on this morning and was able to sit through the entirety of a woman’s account of the alleged, hands-on harassment she says she experienced.

It was statements made by the former Liberal Premier, and now the man synonymous with boosting mental health in Victoria, that the woman said had compelled her to go through the “traumatic” experience of sharing details of the harassment she claims she experienced last year at a dinner attended by the then-Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

TIMELINE OF THE TOWN HALL HARASSMENT SCANDAL

ROBERT DOYLE QUITS AS CITY OF MELBOURNE LORD MAYOR

GEELONG COLLEGE REFERS DOYLE CLAIMS TO POLICE

The woman, going by the name ‘Carla’, told how she became distressed after being seated next to Mr Doyle at a prestigious Melbourne Health dinner last year that was held to celebrate the achievements of her fiance.

Robert Doyle and Jeff Kennett in 2015. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

She said she initially felt starstruck by the stylish event and felt “unworthy” of the honour of being seated next to the Lord Mayor.

But she claimed she was subjected to multiple instances of being touched inappropriately under the table, including so high on her thigh that she left the table and went to the bathroom for some time before swapping seats with her husband (at his suggestion, after her expression alerted him she was upset).

She said she decided to speak out today because she felt it had been implied she, and the Melbourne City Council sexual harassment complainants who have been interviewed for Ian Freckelton QC’s investigation, were “liars”.

Mr Doyle has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

I have met him many times and have always found him respectful and charming, but as Jon Faine stated on radio today, part of our professional role is to examine and air public events.

I feel deeply for his wife, Emma.

SECOND WOMAN LINKED TO MELBOURNE HEALTH MAKES DOYLE CLAIMS

Melbourne City Council meeting this week at the Town Hall. Picture: Jason Edwards

No one wants Cr Doyle’s health to suffer, here. Everyone would wish him a speedy recovery, no doubt.

But the fact ‘Carla’ felt she had to come forward to defend her integrity symbolises everything wrong with the way we respond to claims of sexual harassment.

Attacking a victim’s credibility is a timeworn way of shutting victims down, keeping them quiet, and indirectly ensuring perpetrators feel safe to continue their habits.

Victoria Police is working overtime to help spread the message ‘we believe you’ and to break down the barriers to women reporting, but attitudes as reflected in comments such as Mr Kennett’s, undermine authentic victims, ensuring those barriers stay well and truly in place.

Mr Kennett said on ABC radio that “in many cases in life we can be magnanimous, we can be friendly, we can be fairly touchy in the nicest way possible and people have the opportunity to reject that sort of friendliness”.

He said he had had to indicate objection to inappropriate behaviour in the past, and warned against the “great deal of damage” that can be done to people against whom complaints are made: “The bloodhounds have been let out, we can only assume who might be next”.

ROBERT DOYLE’S WIFE MAKES PASSIONATE DEFENCE OF HUSBAND

Jeff Kennett, former Victorian Premier, has spoken about the harassment claims. Picture: Adam Head

In a column, he related an anecdote of how his wife, Felicity, had needed to physically respond to a man moving his hands on her during a slow dance, and to follow that up with sharp words.

Carla said: “I’m here to say I am not lying, I’ve got no reason (to lie), I’ve got nothing to gain, I’ve just had enough. I’ve really had enough.”

“With Jeff Kennett’s comments that his wife, Felicity, could say ‘no’ at events where a man was inappropriate, well Jeff Kennett, many women and I’m just speaking for myself, can’t say no.”

She is right, of course, especially when there is a power imbalance and or a large age or status difference, many women do feel they have no option but to put up with whatever happens.

They fear no one will believe them, or care and that they will be further demoralised by speaking up.

Of course there should be no presumption of guilt on Mr Doyle’s part, yet neither should people who allege they have been subjected to traumatic behaviour have their moral fibre questioned in public, as ‘Carla’ has every right to feel hers has been.

She should never have been put in the position to need to justify her honesty. Yet this is part of an age old pattern when someone younger or of lower status than their alleged harasser dares disclose.

MORE UNCERTAINTY FOR TOWN HALL AFTER DOYLE QUITS

Mark Knight cartoon on the resignation of Robert Doyle as Melbourne's Lord Mayor.

This episode illustrates the gaping chasm in the way the generations handle claims of harassment.

The old-school way is to question the stability of the accuser and throw might behind the prominent accused, to close ranks.

The contemporary way is to treat the claims of each side with equal respect until the facts can be established. In every article on this episode, it has been repeated that Cr Doyle denies all wrongdoing and Freckelton’s report may yet back him up.

But the wider message here is not that “the bloodhounds” are after friendly men, but that the world has changed for the better when it comes to gender relations.

Sexual harassment is out of the moral grey zone and firmly in the red — where it belongs.

Public figures would do well to get to grips with the potential damage done if victims, past, present and future continue to receive the message that it’s just not worth the risk to speak out.

Chat with Wendy @wtuohy or on Facebook