‘Broken’ Robert Doyle quits as Lord Mayor of Melbourne

Jeff Kennett claims Melbourne’s outgoing Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has been “terribly treated” over sex harassment claims.

Former lord mayor Robert Doyle

UPDATED: Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has described Melbourne’s outgoing Lord Mayor Robert Doyle as “very friendly but not a predator” as he slammed the investigative process undertaken into claims of sexual harassment.

“I do feel he has been terribly treated,” the former Victorian premier told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell this morning.

“Now please don’t get me wrong, I do not support inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form… but we don’t know the findings and I do feel as though his case has been very much prejudged.

“Every time his name was mentioned, they reported every claim against him, and for us the public, without knowing the findings, we have lost a very successful Lord Mayor and a very good administrator.”

Mr Kennett criticised the way the investigation into the complaints had been handled.

“There’s been politics played out in this, there’s no doubt, both at council and in government. Jill Hennessy, the Minister for Health, for whom I’ve always had a high regard, I was appalled the other day when she said based on one complaint from the hospital system that she was going to set up an independent inquiry of Robert’s ten years… This was a political witch-hunt from her point of view; I’m very disappointed in her personally. I think it’s grossly unfair.”

Mr Doyle released a statement to the media last night indicating he would resign as mayor and as chairman of Melbourne Health after he was accused of sexual harassment by two councillors.

In a statement released through his lawyer on Sunday night, Mr Doyle said he believed the investigative process had “lacked any semblance of natural justice, where the burden of proof does not rest with proving guilt, but rather with proving innocence.”

He continues strenuously to deny all the allegations made against him.

Mr Kennett, the founder of mental health advocacy organisation Beyond Blue, said he was concerned for Mr Doyle’s health, and hoped he would be able to find a way back into public life.

“I know people who are listening are going to perhaps be critical of me for saying this, but I hope he finds a way back. I don’t know what the findings are but there is no doubt in my opinion and I say this having known Robert for close on 40 years, he is not a predator. He is good company, he is very friendly but he is not a predator.”

The chief executive of the City of Melbourne Ben Rimmer this morning defended the council’s investigation.

“I recognise that it is in the interests of all involved and in the broader public interest that the full investigation report is completed as quickly as possible. 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. I cannot control the behaviour of the parties or of the media.”

Mr Rimmer said the council will shortly notify the Minister for Local Government Marlene Kairouz MP and the Victorian Electoral Commission of Mr Doyle’s resignation and the requirement for an election for the position of Lord Mayor.

The final report has not yet been presented to council, but a draft copy has been provided to Mr Doyle’s lawyers.

The council will meet for the first time since the allegations were made tomorrow night. On the agenda is a management report which addresses issues which have arisen from the investigation, including the way sexual harassment allegations are reported to council.

“I’m sure we will consider how allegations of sexual harassment are handled under our current Council and State Government frameworks. All of us want to use these circumstances as an opportunity to identify gaps, improve our approach and ensure that Council is a safe workplace for men and women,” said acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood.

‘Not a lot of life in his voice’

Robert Doyle called his deputy from hospital to advise that he was quitting as Melbourne Lord Mayor, speaking with “not a lot of life in his voice”.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood has described learning last night that Mr Doyle was resigning from the top position, a month and a half after he took leave as allegations of sexual harassment were laid against him.

Mr Doyle is currently in hospital receiving treatment for mental and physical strain, as council waits to receive a report on the allegations.

“He called me personally just before the news broke to inform me of his resignation,” Mr Wood told 3AW, describing Mr Doyle’s tone as “very flat”.

“I think the word bandied about has been ‘broken’.

“There was not a lot of life in his voice is probably how I would sum it up.

“It was a difficult phone call and my sympathy is with him and his family and really as you’ve said to all parties that have been impacted by this.

“No one should have their health impacted to this point.”

An election for the position of Lord Mayor will now be held.

Mr Wood said the timing would be up to the Victorian Electoral Commission and the Local Government Minister, and that he had not yet considered whether he would be a candidate.

“It’s been tough even for me jumping in and doing a job in the acting position,” he said. “I haven’t had the headspace to even think about sort of where I want to go.”

Council chief executive Ben Rimmer commissioned an investigation by Ian Freckelton QC after Mr Doyle’s council ally Ms Sullivan resigned in December and complained that Mr Doyle had sexually harassed her.

Ms Sullivan, a lawyer and married mother of three, alleged Mr Doyle groped her breast and made inappropriate comments about oral sex.

Fellow councillor Cathy Oke has also alleged Mr Doyle harassed her, trying to kiss her and touching her thigh under a table in a separate occasion that was witnessed by another councillor.

A separate inquiry was commissioned by Melbourne Health, which Mr Doyle chaired, following claims by the wife of a Royal Melbourne Hospital specialist that Mr Doyle repeatedly touched her thigh at a 2016 medical awards dinner.

Melbourne photographer ­Dianne Mallas has also publicly alleged Mr Doyle sexually harassed her in the 1990s, though this falls outside the scope of Dr Freckelton’s inquiry.

Mr Doyle has strenuously denied all the allegations. In a statement last night, his lawyer

Nick Ruskin said his client felt he had been denied natural justice.

“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,” Mr Ruskin said. “He continues to strenuously deny the allegations made against him.

“The toll the last seven weeks has taken on our client cannot be underestimated. On medical ­advice he will need an immediate period of hospitalisation to begin his recovery. Advice is this may be a lengthy process.”

Mr Doyle’s wife Emma Page Campbell also issued an emotional statement saying the 64-year-old was suffering mentally and physically, and was on “the brink of being broken”.

Mr Wood said he hoped an “end point” would be reached soon.

“I would be surprised if the outcomes of that report (by Dr Freckelton) weren’t made public in some way,” he said.

“I think they should be.”

‘Broken’ Doyle quits as mayor

Robert Doyle sensationally quit as Melbourne lord mayor last night from hospital where he is being treated for emotional distress following sexual harassment claims.

His wife Emma Page Campbell said she would stand by him and added in an emotional statement that the 64-year-old was suffering mentally and physically, and was on “the brink of being broken”.

Three women, including two councillors, have made claims about Mr Doyle’s behaviour. It was announced on Friday that an investigation into the allegations would be delayed because Mr Doyle was seriously unwell. His lawyer, Nick Ruskin, released a statement last night saying Mr Doyle had quit as lord mayor and as chairman of Melbourne Health, seven weeks after the first claim was made by councillor Tessa Sullivan.

“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,” Mr Ruskin said. “He continues to strenuously deny the allegations made against him.

“The toll the last seven weeks has taken on our client cannot be underestimated. On medical ­advice he will need an immediate period of hospitalisation to begin his recovery. Advice is this may be a lengthy process.”

Mr Doyle’s wife said she was “enormously proud” of her husband’s public service and was standing by him as he defends the harassment claims.

“State parliament, town hall and the Royal Melbourne Hospital have been his life’s work, and his achievements in each will be known to many,” she said.

“I stood beside him when he stood down as leader of the Victorian Liberal Party and I stand beside him now as he relinquishes the roles of lord mayor and chair of Melbourne Health.

“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.”

Ms Page Campbell claimed her husband had not been afforded natural justice and the investigation had taken a heavy toll.

“It would seem that the court of public opinion, and what it will deem acceptable, can win out over natural justice,” she said.

“I have watched one of the strongest men I know brought to the brink of being broken.

“For now, he needs time to heal, physically and mentally.”

The couple had been seen arm in arm in Melbourne in recent weeks, the strain clearly evident on Mr Doyle’s face.

“I know my husband. I know his intentions, his character, his language, his manner. None of the allegations against him accord with the man I know,” Ms Page Campbell said.

A council spokeswoman said no notification of Mr Doyle’s resignation had been received by chief executive Ben Rimmer. The Australian understands an official letter is likely to be delivered this morning.

Mr Rimmer said last week that the council would delay receiving a report into allegations against Mr Doyle to give him time to ­respond while he recovered.

Mr Rimmer commissioned an investigation by Ian Freckelton QC after Mr Doyle’s council ally Ms Sullivan resigned in December and complained that Mr Doyle had sexually harassed her.

Ms Sullivan, a lawyer and married mother of three, alleged Mr Doyle groped her breast and made inappropriate comments about oral sex.

Fellow councillor Cathy Oke has also alleged Mr Doyle harassed her, trying to kiss her and touching her thigh under a table in a separate occasion that was witnessed by another councillor.

A separate inquiry was commissioned by Melbourne Health, which Mr Doyle chaired, following claims by the wife of a Royal Melbourne Hospital specialist that Mr Doyle repeatedly touched her thigh at a 2016 medical awards dinner.

Melbourne photographer ­Dianne Mallas has also publicly alleged Mr Doyle sexually harassed her in the 1990s, though this falls outside the scope or Dr Freckelton’s inquiry.

When Ms Sullivan resigned and her claims sparked the investigation, Mr Doyle said he would take a period of leave. At the time he welcomed the investigation and said he would co-operate in a bid to clear his name. “My decision to take leave must not be interpreted as any concession or admission,” he said at the time.

Mr Doyle was lord mayor for almost a decade and served as leader of the Victorian Liberal Party for four years to 2006.