Former Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle too ill for sex harassment report

A summary into an investigation of allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Robert Doyle during a black-tie dinner has been released.

Former Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, right, pictured with his wife Emma Page-Campbell. Picture: Nicole Garmston

An investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Robert Doyle during a Royal Melbourne Hospital black-tie dinner has not been able to reach any conclusions after the former lord mayor was too ill to take part in the investigative process.

Mr Doyle, who resigned from his position as Lord Mayor and the chair of the Melbourne Health Board earlier this year amid sexual harassment claims, was accused of repeatedly touching a woman’s thigh inappropriately during a June 2016 medical research dinner.

The claims were made by the wife of a Royal Melbourne Hospital specialist, who was being honoured at the dinner to receive a prestigious medical research prize.

The woman has previously described feeling “incredibly uncomfortable” by Mr Doyle’s behaviour throughout the dinner and felt she could do nothing to stop it.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy ordered an investigation into the claims and the Department of Health and Human Services appointed Charles Scerri QC to head the investigation.

Today, the department released the executive summary of Mr Scerri’s final report.

“The conduct alleged by the complainant (if established) would reflect badly on Mr Doyle, and Melbourne Health. The alleged conduct varies in degree of seriousness. Some of the alleged conduct, particularly touching the complainant’s inner thigh, would constitute serious misconduct of a sexual nature within the terms of reference,” the summary reads.

“Mr Scerri has no reason to doubt, and at present does not doubt, the veracity of the complainant. However, because of ill health, Mr Doyle has been unable to respond to the allegations. In the absence of any response from Mr Doyle, Mr Scerri is not able to reach, and has not reached, any conclusions about the allegations.”

Mr Scerri also revealed he became aware during the investigation that two other women made allegations about Mr Doyle, but did not come forward to make a complaint because they were concerned about confidentiality.

Mr Doyle has spent several weeks in hospital being treated for anxiety and depression. He has since returned home.

“He is out of hospital, but still unwell,” a spokesman for Mr Doyle told The Australian.

Mr Scerri also concluded Melbourne Health had overall responded appropriately to the claims made against Mr Doyle once they were alerted to them in late December.

However, in a letter to the secretary to the Department of Health and Human Services he also said there were several areas for improvement.

“The main exception to this was that the complainant’s husband, although he is a long-time staff member of Melbourne Health, says that he was unaware of the existence of complaints handling processes and how to access them,” Mr Scerri wrote. “If this has not been addressed already, I would observe that it is an essential feature of a complaints-handling process that staff members are made aware, on a regular basis, of the existence of harassment policies and procedures and how to register a complaint.”

Mr Scerri also said a complaint concerning the chair of the board was “unprecedented” and there was “obvious awkwardness” in the an investigation being carried out by members of management, who are appointed by the board.

“The Department may consider it appropriate to consider an alternative complaints handling process that is independent of management when the complaint concerns a member of the Board,” he suggested.

Mr Doyle was appointed to the chairman of the Melbourne Health Board in 2007. He resigned from the post after the City of Melbourne council undertook an investigation led by Ian Freckelton QC into allegations made by former councillor Tessa Sullivan and Greens councillor Cathy Oke of inappropriate behaviour by Mr Doyle during his mayorship.

Ms Sullivan claims Mr Doyle grabbed her on the breast in the back seat of his chauffeur-driven car after the weekly Tuesday night council dinner.

Ms Oke alleged he repeatedly stroked her thigh under the table at a work dinner in 2014 and tried to kiss her on another occasion.

The Victorian government has committed $400,000 to establishing independent facilitators in Victorian hospitals to respond and better manage sexual harassment within the health services.

“Everyone deserves to work in a safe and professional environment. We are taking further action to ensure our hospitals are safe, respectful and healthy places for all,” Health Minister Jill Hennessy said today.

“These independent facilitators will give staff confidence to stand up and speak up against unacceptable behaviours without fear of reprisal.”

Mr Doyle has strenuously denied all accusations and his lawyer, Nick Ruskin of K&L Gates, said in a brief statement today: “Robert has not been well enough to participate in the Melbourne Health investigation and has received no material from the investigator regarding the allegations.”