Former health Minister Jenny Mikakos wanted Doyle sexual harassment report released months ago

A report into sexual harassment allegations against former lord mayor Robert Doyle was hidden from the public for months, it’s been claimed.

A report found that Kharla Williams was sexually harassed by Robert Doyle at a dinner in 2016. Picture: Sarah Matray

The Andrews government has been accused of sitting on a bombshell report into sexual harassment allegations against Melbourne’s former lord mayor Robert Doyle for six months.

The report was given to ­former health Minister Jenny Mikakos last August, but was released only last week and in summary form.

Ms Mikakos has confirmed that in the week of her resignation in late September, she asked her department to ­release it with some redactions.

Former lord mayor Robert Doyle.

The report, by Charles Scerri, QC, considered Mr Doyle’s behaviour at a Royal Melbourne Hospital black-tie dinner in 2016.

Mr Scerri found that Mr Doyle, who was also Melbourne Health chairman at the time, had engaged in “serious misconduct of a sexual nature” towards a woman seated next to him.

While not named in the summary, the woman is Kharla Williams who attended the dinner with her medico husband Mark Walterfang.

Sources within Melbourne Health have confirmed that in ­December the hospital was being prepared for a public ­release of the report.

Preparations included ­arrangements for discussing or dealing with any concerns raised among its staff.

Six weeks ago, the hospital again prepared for the release of the final report in the days after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins first raised her federal Parliament House rape allegations publicly.

But the plans were shelved and the document was again not released.

The report summary was ­finally released last Friday when it quietly appeared on the Health Department’s website after 5pm.

Former health Minister Jenny Mikakos.

Ms Mikakos confirmed her department had provided her with Mr Scerri’s report, dated August 26, 2020, before her resignation.

It’s understood the former health Minister then asked the department to provide a copy to Ms Williams and publicly release it, subject to Mr Doyle’s private health details being ­redacted.

The government has indicated Mr Scerri made draft findings last August, but was advised of the detrimental ­impact the report’s release would have on Mr Doyle’s health following correspondence from his lawyers.

In late 2020, further medical advice on the detrimental impact was provided to the department.

Mr Scerri then reviewed and amended his report to reflect the medical advice.

A Health Department spokesman said Mr Scerri finalised the report in February. “Any suggestion to the contrary is incorrect,” he said.

“We have undertaken proper process to ensure the relevant parties were consulted and that appropriate protections and supports were put in place prior to the release of the findings.”

Mr Doyle resigned as lord mayor in early 2018.