Robert Doyle quits as City of Melbourne Lord Mayor
CITY of Melbourne’s chief executive has defended the sexual harassment investigation into former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, saying it was based on the presumption of innocence. Melbourne’s acting mayor says Mr Doyle is a “broken” man.
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MELBOURNE City Council chief executive Ben Rimmer has defended the sexual harassment investigation into former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, saying it was based on the presumption of innocence.
Mr Rimmer responded to Mr Doyle, who quit yesterday after nine years in the Town Hall job.
Mr Doyle claimed he was denied natural justice by the probe prompted by complaints by former councillor Tessa Sullivan.
SEVEN WEEKS OF ‘AGONY’: DOYLE’S WIFE
TIMELINE OF THE TOWN HALL HARASSMENT SCANDAL
Mr Doyle’s wife Emma Page Campbell also said the presumption of innocence had been lacking.
“These allegations have been made in an environment in which guilt is presumed over innocence,’’ Ms Page Campbell said.
But Mr Rimmer said the five-week inquiry, conducted by Ian Freckelton QC, followed proper processes.
“Obviously there are many issues that are subject of current public debate that we cannot comment further on at this time, given the sensitive stage that the investigation process has reached and the rights and interests of all parties,” he said.
“However, what I will say is that the investigation process commenced and was undertaken from a presumption of innocence, as it should. The whole purpose of the investigation is to ascertain the facts of the allegations.’’
Mr Rimmer said he would soon notify Local Government Minister Marlene Kairouz and the Victorian Electoral Commission to trigger a new election for the position of lord mayor.
No election will be held for the position of deputy lord mayor, currently held by Arron Wood, unless Cr Wood decides to run for the top job.
However, Cr Wood was noncommittal about his intentions.
“The last seven or eight weeks have been extremely difficult for all involved, including myself and my family,” he said after launching an event about Chinese New Year celebrations.
“And I’ve focused on the business of council and frankly, the last 24 hours haven’t been a time where I’m considering whether I’ll run for council or not.”
“I’m really just focused on the job at hand.”
Cr Wood today paid tribute to Mr Doyle’s “significant contribution” to the City of Melbourne.
“He was deeply passionate about creating a vibrant, sustainable and forward-looking city that richly deserved its mantle as the world’s most liveable city,’’ Cr Wood said.
“We recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for Mr Doyle, his wife Emma Page Campbell, and his four children. We are very hopeful that he has a full and speedy recovery from his current ill health.”
Asked if he felt sorry for Mr Doyle, Cr Wood said: “A lot of people have been affected by this process. Councillors, the (former) Lord Mayor, the organisation, staff, families — so this is not just one person being affected by this.”
LORD MAYOR SUFFERING ‘SERIOUS ILL HEALTH’
Asked about Mr Doyle’s claim that he had been denied natural justice, Cr Wood said: “I have said from day one … that the process is absolutely vital, the integrity of that process is absolutely vital, and to date I have not commented on the process of the investigation.
“I can’t control what others have done but I don’t think the public commentary has been particularly helpful.”
Cr Wood said Mr Doyle had telephoned him last night from his hospital bed to tell him he had resigned.
“It was a difficult phone call and my sympathies are with him and his family and to all parties impacted by this,” Cr Wood told Neil Mitchell on 3AW.
“He was very flat, I think the word bandied about has been ‘broken’ and there was not a lot of life in his voice.
“No one should have their health impacted to this point. Now is the time to focus on their health and get better ... But I have seen impacts on all sides. I have heard about people going through really tough times.
“It has been tough even for me jumping in the acting position. I just think in a situation like this, there are no winners.”
Cr Wood also said today he had not spoken to Tessa Sullivan recently and had not spoken to Cr Oke since Mr Doyle resigned.
Mr Doyle is leaving the job maintaining that he is totally innocent and claiming he has been denied natural justice.
The Herald Sun can reveal that Mr Doyle has been hospitalised and has the full support of his wife Emma Page Campbell, who said her husband was on the “brink of being broken”.
“I stand beside him … He is a good and decent man. I love him. And because I love him, to watch and share what he has been through in the last seven weeks has been agony,” she said.
The former Lord Mayor, 64, who has also resigned as chairman of Melbourne Health, has bowed out ahead of a Melbourne City Council meeting on Tuesday that is due to consider a report into the claims by former councillor Tessa Sullivan.
Ms Sullivan has alleged that Mr Doyle acted in a sexually inappropriate way towards her on a number of occasions in 2017, including touching her breast during a car ride home after a council meeting.
DOYLE CLAIMS COULD BE DISCUSSED AT COUNCIL MEETING
Ms Sullivan’s resignation was exclusively revealed by the Sunday Herald Sun on December 17, and around midday that day, heraldsun.com.au broke the news that Mr Doyle was the alleged perpetrator and that he had stood down during the investigation.
Last night, Mr Doyle declared his innocence, and he sensationally blasted the council’s investigation into the claims ordered by Mr Rimmer and undertaken by Dr Freckelton.
“Following allegations seven weeks ago, he has been through a period which he feels has lacked any semblance of natural justice, where the burden of proof does not rest with proving guilt, but rather with proving innocence,” said a statement by Mr Doyle’s lawyer Nick Ruskin, from K & L Gates.
“He continues to strenuously deny the allegations made against him. The toll that the last seven weeks has had on our client cannot be underestimated.”
“On medical advice he will need an immediate period of hospitalisation to begin his recovery. Advice is that this may be a lengthy process.”
TEXTS PROMPT DRAMATIC TWIST IN DOYLE CASE
REPORT INTO DOYLE CLAIMS HANDED TO LEGAL TEAM
Ms Page Campbell also criticised the process, saying her husband had lacked the presumption of innocence — “a resort to foregone conclusions, and with none of the protections afforded even to those accused of the most horrible crimes”.
“These allegations have been made in an environment in which guilt is presumed over innocence, and where there is little regard for the irreversible damage that can cause to reputation, character and legacy,” she said.
Dr Freckelton said that while he appreciated the opportunity to respond to Mr Doyle’s claims of a denial of natural justice, he felt it would be inappropriate to comment.
“It’s not appropriate for me to respond to those claims,” he said.
“I have filed my report and I will not be commenting further on the matter.”
The investigation was launched on December 20 last year after the Sunday Herald Sun’s exclusive report of Ms Sullivan’s resignation over alleged sexual harassment by a senior male councillor.
Later, the Herald Sun revealed that Greens councillor Cathy Oke had also made an allegation of harassment against the Lord Mayor, while on January 8 this newspaper exclusively reported on a series of explosive texts between Mr Doyle, Ms Sullivan and other councillors that had been tendered as evidence.
Last Friday, Mr Rimmer announced that Mr Doyle was seriously ill, and that Dr Freckelton’s investigation would report in two stages.
With none of the findings yet publicly released, it is unclear if any details of the interim report will emerge at Tuesday’s Future Melbourne Committee meeting.
Under normal circumstances, Mr Rimmer would have the power to refer any adverse findings against a councillor to the Local Government Inspectorate to determine whether he was guilty of gross misconduct.
Mr Doyle’s resignation will trigger an election for a new Lord Mayor, which could occur as early as next month.
Cr Wood could run for the top job, however he would have to relinquish his current position if he failed to win.
Other potential candidates that have been named include former Western Bulldogs supremo Susan Alberti and state Property Council boss Sally Capp.
Businessman and serial candidate Gary Morgan has indicated he will run again.
Without Mr Doyle, Team Doyle has five of the 11 seats on council, the Greens two and the others independents.
Mr Doyle is also facing a separate investigation relating to a claim that he repeatedly touched a woman during a Royal Melbourne Hospital dinner in 2016.
Mr Doyle, who was chairman of Melbourne Health at the time, has denied the allegation and has the backing of a number of people who were sitting at his table who saw no incidents.
State Health Minister Jill Hennessy announced last month that Charles Scerri, QC, would conduct the probe for the Health Department.
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