Health Dep asks whether Robert Doyle was too ill to respond to inappropriate touching claims

HEALTH authorities have effectively questioned whether former lord mayor Robert Doyle is too ill to respond to sexual harassment allegations.

HEALTH authorities have effectively questioned whether former lord mayor Robert Doyle is too ill to respond to sexual harassment allegations.

The Health Department has asked Mr Doyle to attend an interview in the next 10 days over an incident in which he was alleged to have inappropriately touched a woman at a Royal Melbourne Hospital dinner in 2016.

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Health authorities have effectively questioned whether former lord mayor Robert Doyle is too ill to respond to sexual harassment allegations. Picture: File.

The matter was investigated by Charles Scerri, QC, however no findings were made because Mr Doyle was unable to respond to the claims due to ill health.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said today that Mr Doyle, who was also chairman of Melbourne Health at the time, would need to present for interview within 10 days.

“Or, alternatively, undertake an independent medical assessment to assess his ability to answer allegations raised during his time as chair of Melbourne Health,” he said.

The spokesman said Mr Scerri had found the complainant to be credible, but could not test her evidence against Mr Doyle’s version of the events.

“We have repeatedly received advice from his legal advisers that Mr Doyle should not participate in the investigation nor read related material,” he said.

“Mr Doyle has been written to six times — and in each instance his lawyer stated that Mr Doyle was unable to participate.”

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

“And, only yesterday, a further response was received from Mr Doyle’s lawyers saying that he remains unable to participate on medical advice and this is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future.”

The Health Department’s latest move comes after Mr Doyle’s accuser went on ABC radio this morning and said she was “gutted” that no findings had been made against the former lord mayor.

Asked if she would report a sexual harassment incident again, “Carla” said: “No, definitely not. This has been humiliating, I’m really insulted.”

Mr Doyle has been in and out of hospital in recent months, however over the last week he has been seen in public near his inner Melbourne home.

A spokeswoman for Mr Doyle would not comment on the Health Department’s request, other than to say that he “remains very unwell”.