High-profile figures lined up should Lord Mayor Robert Doyle resign

FORMER Western Bulldogs supremo Susan Alberti and prominent businesswoman Sally Capp are among high-profile figures being lined up should Lord Mayor Robert step aside or be sacked.

FORMER Western Bulldogs supremo Susan Alberti and prominent businesswoman Sally Capp are among high-profile figures being lined up should besieged Lord Mayor Robert Doyle resign.

A fourth woman has come forward alleging inappropriate behaviour from Cr Doyle, leading to a mad scramble behind the scenes for his job.

Dianne Mallas, who claims Cr Doyle touched her thigh and brushed against her breast when he was a state MP in 1997, told the Sunday Herald Sun he should quit.

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Cr Doyle did not respond to questions on Saturday, but has previously denied Ms Mallas’ accusations and has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

On Saturday night, councillors were working behind the scenes in case Cr Doyle steps aside or is sacked. There would then be a public vote to fill the position.

Ms Alberti is a former vice-president of the Western Bulldogs and prominent businesswoman, while Ms Capp is Victorian director of the Property Council of Australia.

Former Western Bulldogs supremo Susan Alberti is being lined up should besieged Lord Mayor Robert Doyle resign. Picture: David Caird

A February 6 meeting will be the first time the council formally discusses the matter,which the Sunday Herald Sun broke on December 17, and is expected it will have a report on the allegations.

Former premier Steve Bracks has ruled himself out, but a council source said there would be many hands up for the job, including current councillors.

“Arron Wood, the current deputy mayor, Nick Reece, former senior adviser to Julia Gillard and Cathy Oke, of the current councillors, those three would be in the mix,” a source said.

“Sue Alberti and Sally Capp would be potential candidates. Ann Peacock and Steve Bracks were approached before the 2016 election. ”

Emma Page-Campbell with her husband Robert Doyle in Flinders Lane last week. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Prominent businesswoman Sally Capp is being lined up as a possible replacement if Lord Mayor Robert Doyle resigns.

The Greens would also be likely to field a strong candidate.

Cr Doyle is on leave fighting claims he behaved inappropriately towards former Melbourne City councillor Tessa Sullivan and Ms Oke.

He has also come under a second, separate investigation after claims last week that he touched the thigh of a doctor’s wife at a Melbourne Health event in 2016.

Ms Mallas claimed Cr Doyle touched her thigh and brushed her breasts when he met her to discuss a planning issue when he was the Liberal MP for Malvern.

She has made a complaint to the Melbourne City Council inquiry led by barrister Ian Freckleton, QC, but the incident fell outside the time frame of his review.

“I’ve yet to decide what course of action I would like to take. Even though the inquiry has not been set up to deal with my complaint, it is still relevant and only further underscores that Mr Doyle’s behaviour is not something random or new,” Ms Mallas said.

Ms Alberti, Ms Capp, Ms Oke, Mr Wood, Mr Reece, and Ms Peacock declined to comment.

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