How council’s Boozy Tuesdays left Lord Mayor Robert Doyle in strife

Tuesday evenings at Melbourne Town Hall were long, boozy affairs.

Robert Doyle with Tessa Sullivan in August last year. Picture: David Caird

Tuesday evenings at Melbourne Town Hall were long, boozy affairs. With official council business done by 7.30, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, councillors and senior staff would retire upstairs to a plush, private dining room to eat and drink into the night.

Canapes and aperitifs, a full dinner service provided by Spotless Catering, a delectable selection of cheeses, all washed down with some of the finest wines in the city.

Customarily one of the last to leave about 11pm, the Lord Mayor would make his chauffeur-driven car available to anyone needing a lift home.

In May this year, it was Tessa Sullivan, a smart young lawyer mentored by Doyle during her brief time on council, who fatefully took up the offer.

What happened on the leather back seat of Doyle’s Holden ­Caprice that night outside the ­Albert Park house he shares with his wife and young family threatens to end a political career that has spanned state and local politics for a quarter of a century.

Sullivan claims Doyle groped her breast; Doyle denies this, ­describing the allegation as ­horrendous. The only other witness is Doyle’s driver, a private contractor who has spent many a late night patiently waiting at the kerb, mayoral flag fluttering from the bonnet of his silver sedan, ­licence plate LM000, while Doyle indulges his sizeable appetites.

The driver will provide his ­account to Ian Freckleton QC, a barrister appointed by the City of Melbourne to resolve Sullivan’s complaint. Dr Freckleton said yesterday the investigation was already under way. In the meantime, councillors have been instructed to say nothing about the scandal ripping City Hall apart.

Those who have worked with Doyle say he is no Harvey Weinstein. In contrast with the disgraced Hollywood director, he is not malicious in his treatment of women. Yet they recognise Doyle’s behaviour is a problemthat City Hall has not addressed.

“It is quite devastating to see what has happened,’’ a former councillor said. “These are not things that I didn’t see. Robert can be charming and generous and supportive of women in their careers but he has this side to him that he has never been able to resolve. People stopped going to those Tuesday night dinners. It was a ticking time-bomb.’’

A former senior employee said: “He just loves women. He doesn’t do it to intimidate people. A lot of people like him; people kind of go, ‘That’s just Robert’.’’

For women who don’t take offence at Doyle’s frequent use of sexually loaded double entendres or mind his lingering hugs and occasional kisses, he can be a good and supportive boss. His chief of staff and principal media adviser are both women. He identified Sullivan as a prospective councillor and added her to his re-election ticket when she was largely unknown in political circles.

In November last year, Doyle was re-elected for an unprecedented third term with double the votes of his nearest rival.

A former state Liberal leader and Melbourne’s longest- serving Lord Mayor, Doyle is an engaging raconteur and well-read former English teacher who would be mortified to know that some at City Hall consider him lecherous.

Doyle’s bigger issue appears to be booze. “There was a bit of an unofficial policy not to organise an appointment with the Lord Mayor after lunch,’’ a former councillor said.

“Alcohol is the key issue. He gets pissed and says and does things.’’

It is alleged that at another boozy dinner, in December 2014, a similarly young, female councillor received a more than helping hand from Doyle at a Melbourne restaurant. It had been a long night on council business and Doyle was intoxicated. Without warning, he allegedly reached under the table and started caressing her thigh. With the mayor oblivious to her discomfort, she claims she had to shift places to make him stop.

The incident was allegedly seen by another councillor who the next morning encouraged her to make a formal complaint. She didn’t then and is a reluctant witness now. When Sullivan learned of the woman’s story she added it to her claim, which includes allegations of sexual harassment and indecent assault. More than likely, Doyle cannot remember the incident at the restaurant. He regularly jokes that he can’t remember much of anything that happens the night before.

Richard Foster, a former ­councillor, political opponent and prominent critic of Doyle, said Sullivan’s complaint had exposed a toxic culture within the Town Hall. “My only surprise about the whole thing is it’s taken so long to come out,’’ he said. “Speaking out against a seemingly powerful figure can be a tremendously daunting proposition. “

Sullivan, a mother of three, has quit the council. She sought advice from Josh Bornstein, a prominent employment lawyer with Maurice Blackburn, before going public with her claims. She issued another statement yesterday, ­welcoming a “thorough and comprehensive’’ investigation.

Doyle has taken leave as Lord Mayor and stood down as the chairman of Melbourne Health until the investigation into his conduct is complete.