Melbourne Lord Mayor faces second probe into sex harassment claims

The political future of Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle would appear to be in tatters but he is determined to return to public life.

Emma Page-Campbell with her husband, Robert Doyle. Picture: Nicole Garmston.

The political future of Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle would appear to be in tatters amid a second investigation into sexual harassment alle­gations, but the long-serving councillor has told supporters he is determined to resolve the matter and return to public life.

Mr Doyle, who took leave from Melbourne City Council last month after a complaint was lodged alleging sexual harassment and indecent assault, is facing a fresh claim that in his capacity as Melbourne Health chairman he touched a woman inappropriately at a function in June 2016.

Following a decision by Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy to order a probe into Mr Doyle’s conduct, questions have also emerged around his 2016 reappointment as chairman of the board that oversees the Royal Melbourne Hospital when he had previously served the maximum nine-year term permitted under the law.

Ms Hennessy announced the probe on Wednesday, following allegations Mr Doyle had touched the woman, understood to be the wife of a senior specialist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, on the thigh and made suggestive comments to her during the Royal Melbourne Research Gala.

The woman took her complaint to Ian Freckelton QC, who has been commissioned by the City of Melbourne to investigate a complaint lodged by former councillor Tessa Sullivan against Mr Doyle alleging sexual harassment and indecent assault.

A second councillor, the Greens’ Cathy Oke, has also claimed she was harassed.

Mr Doyle, a former leader of the Liberal Party and state opposition, has said he would co-operate fully with both investigations but strenuously denied he’d behaved in an inappropriate manner. It is understood that he has told his supporters, many of whom say the allegations appear “out of character”, that he remained “very resolved” to “seeing the matter through to the end”.

Stephen Mayne, a former City of Melbourne councillor who served alongside Mr Doyle for several years, questioned how he could survive such a high-profile investigation, regardless of the outcome. “I think it’s over for Team Doyle,” he said, referring to the bloc of six councillors elected alongside the Lord Mayor.

“I think (he) will resign and the remnants of Team Doyle will resolve to serve as independents under a new, probably female, lord mayor.”

Former Melbourne councillor Richard Foster, a prominent critic of Mr Doyle, said regardless of the outcome of the investigation, his position would appear to be­ ­“untenable”.

The Department of Health has appointed Charles Scerri QC to undertake the Melbourne Health investigation.

Mr Scerri is expected to liaise with Dr Freckelton on certain matters.

Ms Hennessy has declined to comment until the investigation is concluded.

WITH SIMONE FOX KOOB