Lord Mayor Sally Capp won’t seek to see the full report into claims against Robert Doyle

LORD Mayor Sally Capp now says she won’t seek out full details of the sexual harassment investigation involving her predecessor, Robert Doyle.

LORD Mayor Sally Capp has backed away from trying to get full details of a probe into sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor Robert Doyle.

Cr Capp made it clear after her election win last month that she wanted to read the full report by Ian Freckelton, QC, as it was important to know the detail since “we have very much been trusting the judgment of those making decisions’’.

“It is an issue that has impacted the organisation ­internally, at the council and executive levels, and has had ­repercussions externally for the victims and public more broadly,” The Australian reported her saying at the time.

DRAFT REPORT INTO LORD MAYOR CLAIMS COMPLETED

REPORT: FOUR ADVERSE FINDINGS AGAINST ROBERT DOYLE

New Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

LORD MAYORAL CANDIDATE PROMISES TO CLEAN UP TOWN HALL CULTURE

But at a council meeting this week, Cr Capp said that confidentiality guarantees given by Mr Freckelton to inquiry participants were very important, and she wouldn’t seek to see the full report.

“That’s important, for one, respecting the rights of people involved, and two, it’s also important for the integrity of the process,” she said.

A summarised report including adverse findings was released by the council in March, however, during the lord mayoral by-election campaign several candidates called for the full report to be made public.

City of Melbourne CEO Ben Rimmer.

City of Melbourne CEO Ben Rimmer said management was still taking steps to resolve an outstanding matter involving the Doyle investigation.

This was the claim by a woman that the former lord mayor had harassed her while sitting alongside her at a Royal Melbourne Hospital medical awards dinner.

Mr Doyle denied the incident when the allegation first surfaced.

The Freckelton inquiry considered the allegation but was unable to make findings because Mr Doyle was not well enough to give evidence.

Former lord mayor Robert Doyle pictured recently near his home. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A separate Health Department inquiry into the matter was also launched, and it also failed to make findings for the same reason.

However, last month, the department gave Mr Doyle 10 days to appear for an interview or undertake an independent medical assessment to test his ability to answer questions.

Head of the inquiry, Charles Scerri, QC, said later in May that new medical evidence provided to him indicated it would not be safe to question Mr Doyle at that time.

A Health Department statement then said the investigation had not concluded.

[e-mail]

@JMasanauskas