Report upholds four allegations against Doyle, including breast grab

The investigation into former lord mayor Robert Doyle has upheld four allegations against him – including that he grasped the breast of former councillor Tessa Sullivan.

The independent probe found that on each occasion of sexually inappropriate conduct Mr Doyle had ‘‘consumed substantial amounts of red wine’’.

The investigation's findings bring to an end a career in Victorian politics spanning three decades, which saw Mr Doyle rise to become leader of the state opposition from 2002 to 2006. He was lord mayor of Melbourne for nine years, until his resignation in February.

The summary of the report tabled at Melbourne City Council on Tuesday afternoon also found that Mr Doyle had:

Repeatedly placed his hand on fellow councillor Cathy Oke’s inner thigh ‘‘below her groin area’’ at a restaurant meeting in 2014
On another occasion embraced Cr Oke and tried to kiss her on the mouth, ‘‘causing her to push him away’’ and leave his office

However, investigators did not find against Mr Doyle on a number of other accusations made by Ms Sullivan.

These accusations did not meet the standard of proof required by investigators, which sat between the ‘‘balance of probabilities and reasonable doubt’’. A failure to find something proven to this standard did not mean it did not happen, investigators said in their report.

Former councillor Tessa Sullivan.
Photo: Jason South

Ms Sullivan said in a statement posted on social media that she was "relieved the truth is out".

Mr Doyle's wife, Emma Page-Campbell, responded on her husband's behalf shortly after the release of the summary.

She said her husband "continues to deny all allegations made against him" but that he "now recognises that his cheerful and oftentimes animated personality and manner towards people, both men and women alike, may no longer be appropriate by today's standards".

Melbourne City Council chief executive Ben Rimmer released a statement that indicated that, if Mr Doyle had not resigned as lord mayor, it would have been necessary "to consider what further action to take’’.

Greens councillor Cathy Oke told the special meeting of council that more support was needed for women in politics to ‘‘encourage speaking out’’ when something was wrong.

‘‘Women don’t speak out because we fear that if the wrong person is unwittingly spoken to it could mean a leak, a breach of confidentiality, a breach of trust, and ultimately information in the hands of their accused and their powerful networks,’’ she said.

"I had a real fear that speaking to someone in the powerful connected networks in this city, on this matter, would lead to a media smear or attack on my reputation. Although perhaps ridiculous to some, that fear was real and paralysing," a tearful Cr Oke told the council meeting.

Mr Doyle remains in hospital, where he has been since February due to stress.

Investigators working for the council have suspended an inquiry into allegations of improper conduct by Mr Doyle at a medical awards event, until he is able to respond.

Ms Sullivan, a lawyer, resigned as a city councillor in December, accusing Mr Doyle of sexual harassment over an extended part of 2017.

She also accused him of indecent assault – of grasping her breast and making sexually explicit comments to her.

Mr Rimmer has been under intense pressure to release the report into the allegations against Mr Doyle. He said in his statement that, because of privacy, ‘‘statutory obligations’’ and the interests of complainants, he would not release the report.

He did however release a summary of the report, in the form of a nine-page statement by him.

The report that will not be released was completed by a team of lawyers led by barrister Ian Freckelton. The investigation is understood to have cost something in the region of $1 million.

Dr Freckelton and his team interviewed all current councillors, some former councillors, and some staff at Melbourne City Council, along with other people who came forward during the investigation.

Among the allegations investigators explored was that Mr Doyle had clutched the upper thigh of Cr Oke during a job interview with one the two final candidates for chief executive at Italian bistro Lupino in 2014.

Mr Doyle’s alleged grope was seen by then-councillor Stephen Mayne, who was also interviewed by Dr Freckelton.

The report found that ‘‘investigators did not accept the argument advanced by Mr Doyle in respect of [this incident] that his touching of Cr Oke was a signal to her that he was impressed by a candidate for a job’’.

The report noted that Mr Doyle had ‘‘stated clearly throughout the investigation that he either did not engage in the acts constituted by the allegations or that his conduct in engaging in them was not sexually inappropriate’’.

Mr Doyle's wife, Ms Page-Campbell, said that her husband "continues to deny all allegations made against him".

“He is sorry for any misunderstanding he has caused others by such conduct, but fervently rejects that any such conduct was intended to be inappropriate or sexual in nature," she said.

She said her husband remained in hospital on medical advice.

She said the investigation had and continues to have "significant detrimental effect" on Mr Doyle.

“Robert appropriately stood down from his position as lord mayor," she said, "and for the most part has refrained from commenting publicly or privately in spite of the unrelenting attacks on his character. This has not stopped others from prosecuting Robert through the media".

She said Melbourne City Council had been "well served by Robert over the last nine years as lord mayor and his departure and these findings, which we do not accept, should not diminish his record of public service. He intends to return to good health in time, move on from this period and find ways to continue to serve the community of Melbourne. He continues to have my unbridled love and support”.