Robert Doyle steps down amid council sexual harassment probe

LORD Mayor Robert Doyle will stand down from his role as chair of Melbourne Health while an investigation takes place into claims by a young councillor that he groped her breast and sexually harassed her. Cr Doyle has denied the allegations.

LORD Mayor Robert Doyle will stand down from his role as chair of Melbourne Health while an investigation takes place into groping allegations made by a fellow councillor.

A young councillor has sensationally claimed Cr Doyle groped her and sexually harassed her, forcing him to stand aside.

Melbourne City Council is in turmoil after councillor Tessa Sullivan lodged a complaint that Cr Doyle made lewd comments and once grabbed her breast. A series of explosive claims have been levelled against the Lord Mayor including that he once told Ms Sullivan, “I love cunnilingus”.

DO YOU KNOW MORE? E-MAIL [e-mail]

Cr Doyle has denied the claims and has stood down while an investigation takes place.

He has also advised the Department of Health and Human Services and the Melbourne Health Board that he will take a month’s leave as Melbourne Health chair.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle swears in Cr Tessa Sullivan at a ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall in 2016. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Tessa Sullivan has resigned as a councillor. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

Council sources confirmed another councillor has also alleged the Lord Mayor touched her thigh, which was witnessed by a third councillor.

Ms Sullivan, a Doyle ally, sent Town Hall into a spin when she ­resigned on Friday and lodged a ­complaint with council chief ­executive Ben Rimmer.

Council sources said Ms Sullivan, a mother of three, had complained Cr Doyle would also hug and kiss her ­inappropriately.

They said Ms Sullivan had alleged that Cr Doyle grabbed her breast as he ­exited his mayoral car, after he had given her a lift following post council-meeting drinks.

She told council bosses Cr Doyle had told her “I love cunnilingus”, as they entered a lift to leave Town Hall.

The council has hired a top silk to probe her complaints of “indecent assault, sexual harassment and misconduct” against the Lord Mayor.

Council sources said Ms Sullivan, who was on Team Doyle, also mentioned an ­incident in which Cr Doyle ­allegedly touched the thigh of another woman during a meeting in 2014.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood will replace Cr Doyle during his absence. Picture: Stuart McEvoy, The Australian.

Cr Doyle yesterday categorically rejected all claims against him.

Fellow councillor Jackie Watts told 3AW it was a “sad day for our council”.

“The allegations are as I read them in the media, quite explicit. It is very hard to build an excellent reputation but it is very easy to lose it,” Cr Watts said.

“I am delighted that the CEO is working so well in following proper procedure to investigate these very, very serious allegations.

“But when allegations like this surface, you have to say that this should occur in a capital city council against the Lord Mayor with this experience and with a well-educated, capable and sophisticated councillor, one has to take these allegations very seriously.”

She said she had spoken to Ms Sullivan to offer support over the weekend.

“We are all shocked. Tessa is feeling it greatly,” she said.

“I think it would be a very difficult time for her. It takes a very brave woman to speak up in this way and of course, it puts everyone in a very difficult situation.

“But I am confident, the CEO of the City of Melbourne is taking this very seriously indeed.”

Cr Watts took Cr Doyle before a councillor Code of Conduct Panel for “bullying” in her first term.

“The panel outcome was it was not within their purview to make a decision on what I alleged,” she said.

“Nethertheless, it occurred to me and I really think that any councillor has to step up when the conduct of council is not properly handled.

“It was my first-term of council and that’s why I was quite astounded that I had to do that so early.”

She said her relationship with Cr Doyle was cordial and professional.

The Herald Sun understands Ms Sullivan’s resignation letter contained a supporting statement from Cr Cathy Oke which alleged further incidences of harassment by Cr Doyle.

But Cr Oke yesterday did not address the issue specifically amid the council’s investigation.

“Out of respect for the people and the process involved I will be guided by the investigative procedure,” she said.

It is also understood that Ms Sullivan has previously ­accused another high-profile Melburnian, not linked to the city council, of ­making lewd ­comments about her breasts at a social function.

A business figure, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he attended a meeting in August in which Ms Sullivan made the claims.

The Sunday Herald Sun exclusively revealed the allegations made by Ms Sullivan, before the Herald Sun yesterday broke the news Cr Doyle was standing down.

Cr Doyle said in a statement issued yesterday that he was shocked by the “thoroughly abhorrent” allegations made against him.

HARASSMENT BOMBSHELL HITS CITY HALL

Robert Doyle with his election team October 2016 (left-right): Kevin Louey, Beverley Pinder,-Mortimer, Hope Wei, Susan Riley, Arron Wood, Robert Doyle, Nicholas Reece, Tessa Sullivan and Sue Stanley. Picture: David Caird

“Not only as Lord Mayor but as a father of young women, a husband, a brother and as the head of an office made up entirely of women,” he said.

“I have not been officially informed of the specifics (but) I welcome the investigation and will co-operate fully to clear my name.”

Sources close to the Lord Mayor say they are ­“blindsided” by the allegations and ­cannot square them with the “amiable” behaviour of Ms ­Sullivan towards Cr Doyle in recent weeks. They say Ms Sullivan was miffed that the Lord Mayor was unable to attend a Christmas function she ­organised for Team Doyle at Yering Station winery in the Yarra Valley. The sources close to Cr Doyle also claimed Ms Sullivan was chatting amiably with him and his wife Emma Page Campbell at a recent Lady Mayoress lunch.

Mr Rimmer has engaged top QC Ian Freckleton to lead the investigation into the ­allegations as Cr Doyle takes leave for a month.

“Pending the outcome of this investigation, I will determine what further action, if any, is required and available to me,” Mr Rimmer said.

“These allegations are very serious, and if proven would be inconsistent with the values of the city and the organisation.”

City of Melbourne chief Ben Rimmer. Picture: Kris Reichl

MORE FOOTY SEX SCANDAL DETAILS EMERGE

AFL CLUB FIGURE IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINT

Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood will become Acting Lord Mayor during Cr Doyle’s absence and it is likely that Team Doyle member and ­former councillor Beverley Pinder-Mortimer will be ­elected in a countback to replace Ms Sullivan.

“Like all councillors, I am very concerned by the allegations made public today and welcome the independent investigation that has been established by the Chief Executive Officer,” Mr Wood said.

“The investigation will be particularly important in providing natural justice to all parties.

“I recognise that this is a very difficult time for everyone involved, I have asked the Chief Executive Officer to ensure that our Employee Assistance Program is made available to all Melbourne City Councillors and their support staff; as is our practice.

“The facts in this specific matter are yet to be determined. Any allegations should always be fully investigated.”

Ms Sullivan, a lawyer, was elected to council in November 2016.

Her portfolio while on council included family services, community care, homelessness, city safety as well as health and wellbeing.

The Herald Sun has made numerous attempts without success to contact Ms Sullivan for comment and responses.

[e-mail]