Former Melbourne City councillor Tessa Sullivan reveals interactions with ex-Lord Mayor Robert Doyle

DETAILS of the alleged “vulgar” interactions between Robert Doyle and a former Melbourne councillor who has accused him of sexual harassment can be revealed.

DETAILS of the alleged “vulgar” interactions between Robert Doyle and a former Melbourne councillor who has accused him of sexual harassment can be revealed.

Tessa Sullivan resigned as a Melbourne City councillor in December after she lodged a complaint alleging the former lord mayor made sexually loaded remarks and inappropriately touched her.

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In her 27-page statement of complaint, seen by the Herald Sun, she reveals, in her own words, how the former mayor would give her strange side hugs, stare at her breasts and comment on her clothes.

Former City of Melbourne councillor Tessa Sullivan. Aaron Francis.

She claimed after Tuesday night council meetings, Mr Doyle would always insist he give her a lift home, but not before they have another drink in his office.

On one occasion, mid last year, she said she “felt very sick” after drinking the wine.

“I don’t remember anything except being in his office, then violently ill in bed at home the next,” she detailed in her written complaint, dated December 14, 2017.

“My husband told me that he found me lying in the front yard. I had vomited on the street, front yard, entry to my home and I was violently ill throughout the night and morning.

Ms Sullivan believes nothing untoward happened that night but said she: “continued to feel uneasy about that night.”

“I replayed it in my mind but to this day continue to have no recollection. I was certain that I did not drink excessively that evening.

“I decided to never drink alcohol or get lifts from Doyle again, and I never did.”

But she said from there it was hard to concentrate at work.

“I was anxiously always strategising ways to avoid Doyle,” she said.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Tessa Sullivan. Picture: David Caird

“I would prepare my outfits the night before, trying to wear clothes that hid my cleavage or ugly stockings that hid my legs. I could not stand him looking at me, but he always would stare at my body.

“I found Doyle’s behaviour vulgar,” she alleges.

She revealed another interaction on October 31 last year when she found herself in a lift alone with the then mayor and him detailing how he loved to give women oral sex.

“I said to Doyle ‘I will go down with you’ (meaning, in the elevator),” she explained.

“He turned to me and said ‘Will you just?’ There was a definite sexual connotation to this.

“He then said ‘I love cunnilingus!’

“I began to panic and I did not want to be anywhere near him.”

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She also told of his affectionate hug and kiss greetings and goodbyes; and “strange side hugs” where he would pull her towards him and put one around her shoulder and the other hand flat on her breast and ribs.

“He started doing this a lot,” she said. “Gradually, the hugs became more invasive.

“He would use the flat hand to push my breast slightly sideways.”

Ms Sullivan first met Mr Doyle on November 21, 2013 when he was invited by CBRE to officially open the refurbishment of The Edition office building on Flinders Lane.

The project was undertaken by Sullivan Property Pty Ltd, which Ms Sullivan’s husband, Brendan, was a director and shareholder.

The next day, her husband received an email saying Mr

City of Melbourne Cr Tessa Sullivan is sworn in at a ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall. Picture: Andrew Henshaw.

Doyle wanted to have a meeting with her. But it wasn’t until five months later, on April 14, she met him at his office in Town Hall.

“He said that he would like me to run for the Melbourne City Council,” Ms Sullivan said in her statement.

“He said words to the effect that I was impressive, attractive and multicultural and that running for Council would allow me to make a difference to the world and the city that I live in.”

Mr Doyle denies all allegations but quit as lord mayor earlier this month, sparking an election on May 12 to fill the top job.

The council has commissioned top silk Dr Ian Freckelton to investigate the allegations.

His report is imminent but was yet to be handed to City of Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Ben Rimmer on Friday night.

Mr Rimmer told a meeting of councillors earlier this week: “The investigators will take into account any response received from Mr Doyle.

“Following this the City of Melbourne’s lawyers will provide me with the finalised interim report and I will make necessary decisions regarding the release of information, if at all possible.

“I will provide an update to councillors on this matter next week.”

A special council meeting will be held on Tuesday at 4pm where an update will be provided on the investigation.