Explosive report: Four adverse findings against former lord mayor Robert Doyle

ONE of two councillors found to have been sexually harassed by former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, says the findings of a council investigation are a huge vindication.

ONE of two councillors found to have been sexually harassed by former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, says she feels vindicated by the findings of a council investigation.

The explosive report by a top silk confirmed four findings against Mr Doyle, including that he touched the breast of former councillor Tessa Sullivan in the mayoral car.

Ms Sullivan labelled the report’s findings “outstanding”.

“I feel very pleased with this outcome, it is a huge vindication,” Ms Sullivan told ABC Radio Melbourne this morning.

Ms Sullivan called for a review of the sexual harassment reporting system for local councils.

“A complete lack of policy leaves women vulnerable … it gives them no outlet for complaint,” she said.

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Two other findings ­of the report related to sexual harassment. A fourth concerned Mr Doyle’s “substantial” consumption of red wine, which the probe said had been a significant factor in his inappropriate behaviour. In a day of high drama:

THE report said the council was at times sexualised by Mr Doyle’s acts;

CITY CEO Ben Rimmer said it had not been a safe workplace for the two women involved;

NO adverse findings were made in relation to several other matters raised by Ms Sullivan;

MR Doyle continued to deny all ­allegations against him;

AN investigation into another ­alleged incident involving Mr Doyle was suspended pending his ability to respond.

Ms Sullivan, a former Team Doyle member who resigned from the council last December, tweeted after the release of the findings yesterday: “This proves what I & many know: Robert Doyle is a sexual predator with a serious history of offending.

“The findings reflect the high bar for gross misconduct & in no way detract from the other claims in the full report. I am relieved the truth is out & he can no longer violate women.”

DOYLE A ‘BROKEN’ MAN AFTER RESIGNATION

Former City of Melbourne councillor Tessa Sullivan. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

However, Mr Doyle’s wife Emma Page-Campbell said in a statement that only one of the eight initial ­allegations concerning Ms Sullivan had been upheld.

“This finding, however, is not accepted by Robert and, furthermore, is not corroborated by a witness who has been publicly reported as saying that the incident did not and could not have taken place,” she said.

“Robert continues to deny all ­allegations made against him.”

The finding challenged by Mr Doyle and Ms Page-Campbell involves an allegation that he touched the breast of Ms Sullivan while giving her a lift home in the mayoral car in May last year.

Ms Page-Campbell said her husband’s evidence was ­corroborated by a witness — believed to be the driver, whom the Herald Sun has ­reported as saying that the ­incident did not and could not have taken place.

In the investigation by Ian Freckelton, QC, two findings relating to sexual harassment involved Greens councillor Cathy Oke, whom Mr Doyle allegedly inappropriately touched on the thigh during a in December 2014 dinner to ­interview candidates or the post of chief executive.

Emma Page-Campbell with her husband Robert Doyle. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Another incident occurred in late 2016 or early 2017, when Mr Doyle invited Cr Oke into his office after they had consumed alcohol at a dinner after a council meeting.

“Cr Oke went with the Lord Mayor into his office but before she could leave he embraced her and attempted to kiss her on the mouth, causing her to push him away and ­resulting in her leaving his ­office to get away from him and avoid his overtures,” the report said.

The investigators rejected Mr Doyle’s explanation that the thigh touching was “a signal to her (Cr Oke) that he was impressed by a candidate for the (CEO) job”.

Ms Page-Campbell said that despite numerous requests, her husband was never provided with sufficient detail of the evidence provided to the investigation “such that he could effectively defend himself”.

“In particular, he was not provided with any written material setting out the evidence given by Cr Oke,” she said.

Cr Oke tearfully told a council meeting on Tuesday that she had avoided reporting the abuse out of fear.

“Women don’t speak out because we fear that if the wrong person is unwittingly spoken to, it could mean a leak, a breach of confidentiality, a breach of trust and ultimately information in the hands of their accused and a powerful network,” she said.

Councillor Cathy Oke at an earlier council meeting. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

“I am ashamed that despite being a smart, driven woman and one who would normally call out bad behaviour and have certainly reported inappropriate behaviour in the past, that I didn’t stand up.”

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said the council deplored violence against women and he was deeply concerned about the findings.

Cr Wood apologised to Cr Oke and to Ms Sullivan, and all councillors issued a statement deploring “violence against women in all of its forms”.

“It is important that all women are encouraged to speak out and that councillors have a workplace where they are safe to do their jobs,” the statement said.

The council is now reviewing its alcohol and drug policy. The report recommended a ­review of its booze policy.

Chief executive Mr Rimmer said the findings revealed conduct that was inconsistent with the organisation’s values.

“Given Mr Doyle is no longer in office, it is necessary to examine further measures to ensure appropriate levels of workplace safety for councillors in the future,” he said.

Mr Rimmer said that Ms Sullivan took a very significant and courageous personal step in coming forward and raising her concerns with him.

Mr Doyle, who resigned last month, had been readmitted to hospital, and “on medical advice has been unable to review or respond to the report prior to its publication”, Ms Page-Campbell said.

Melbourne City Council CEO Ben Rimmer. Picture: Stuart McEvoy/The Australian.

A source close to the Doyles said the former lord mayor was extremely frustrated by the process, which effectively gagged him from making public comment.

“Of course it was frustrating for Robert to see all of this play out in the media and to have no right of reply,” the source said. “Robert was presumed guilty from the get-go, with day after day of media reporting the allegations against him in ever more lurid detail.”

A council spokeswoman said on Tuesday night that if Victoria Police were to “ask for our co-operation, of course we would co-operate fully.”

A spokesman for Local Government minister Marlene Kairouz said the report was a matter for the City of Melbourne.

DINNER CULTURE CENTRAL TO INVESTIGATION

BOOZY dinners after Melbourne City Council’s regular Tuesday meetings proved central to the investigation which ­exposed former lord mayor Robert Doyle as a sexual harasser.

Councillors were encouraged to head upstairs to eat and drink together on the ratepayers’ tab.

The sessions were seen as a bonding exercise — but they proved to be uncomfortable for former councillor Tessa Sullivan and Greens councillor Cathy Oke.

Two of the findings against Mr Doyle relate to what happened after these dinners.

Long lunches and ­dinners have been central to Mr Doyle’s public life.

The state opposition leader from 2002-06, he had a reputation of enjoying excellent lunches with his female and male staff in CBD restaurants like Becco.

It’s been said that Becco became the former English teacher’s second office, but that he had an amazing ­capacity to drink copious amounts of wine and still do his job well.

Former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

Some former staff of Mr Doyle maintain that the characterisation of his parliamentary office as some sort of party headquarters was a gross exaggeration.

However, others who didn’t work for him but who were ­observers at the time say they are surprised that it took so long for sexual harassment ­allegations to surface.

Mr Doyle continues to deny all claims of sexual harassment against him, although his wife Emma Page-Campbell said on Tuesday that he conceded his “cheerful and animated personality” may no longer be appropriate by today’s standards.

“He is sorry for any misunderstanding he has caused others by such conduct, but fervently rejects that any such conduct was intended to be inappropriate or sexual in nature,” she said.

“The city of Melbourne was well served by Robert over the last nine years as lord mayor, and his departure and these findings, which we do not ­accept, should not diminish his record of public service.”

Findings

MAY 2, 2017

■ Mr Doyle’s driver took him and Ms Sullivan home from work. Mr Doyle got out of the car, opened the back seat door to where Ms Sullivan was sitting and touched her breast before she slapped his hand away.

DECEMBER 4, 2014 AT LUPINO BISTRO AND BAR ON LITTLE COLLINS STREET

■ Mr Doyle repeatedly placed his hand on Cr Cathy Oke’s inner thigh, positioning his fingers below her groin. She brushed his hand away three to four times before moving away from him.

LATE 2016/EARLY 2017 AT A TUESDAY POST-COUNCIL MEETING DINNER

■ Mr Doyle asked Cr Oke to come to his office where he embraced Cr Oke and attempted to kiss her on the mouth. She pushed him away before leaving the office.

■ Mr Doyle consumed a “substantial amount of red wine” during all three occasions.

CONCLUSIONS

■ Council was not a safe workplace for Ms Sullivan or Cr Oke.

■ Council ought to review its policy surrounding consumption of alcohol at its Tuesday meetings given all sexually inappropriate conduct involved alcohol.

■ A lack of complaints process was a “significant vulnerability” within council and could have supported councillors or staff members in reporting inappropriate conduct by Mr Doyle.

Ms Page-Campbell said her husband intended “to return to good health in time, move on from this period and find ways to continue to serve the community of Melbourne”.

“He continues to have my unbridled love and support,” she said.

Ian Freckelton, QC, who conducted the investigation for the council, found that Mr Doyle touched Ms Sullivan on the breast while giving her a lift home in the mayoral car on a Tuesday night.

“Cr Sullivan slapped his hand away, causing him to cease his conduct,” his ­report found. Cr Oke was allegedly harassed by the then lord mayor when he invited her into his office after a council meeting.

“Before she could leave he embraced her and attempted to kiss her on the mouth, causing her to push him away and resulting in her leaving his ­office to get away from him and avoid his overtures,” the report found.

Both incidents, and another one involving Cr Oke that occurred at a restaurant, involved Mr Doyle consuming “substantial amounts of red wine”. The report said: “The information provided to the investigation reflects the consumption of alcohol at Melbourne City Council on a Tuesday evening ought to be the subject of policy revision.”

CEO Ben Rimmer said that the council “was not a safe workplace” for either victim, and he confirmed that the council was reviewing its drug and alcohol policy.

“I take very seriously the findings recorded in the first report concerning the nature of sexualised workplaces, the discomfort expressed about the complaints process by councillors, and the consumption of alcohol,” he said.

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