’Grog, hubris’ felled Doyle
FORMER premier Jeff Kennett has blamed alcohol and hubris for alleged inappropriate behaviour against women by ex-lord mayor Robert Doyle.
Several women have been interviewed by police in relation to Mr Doyle over the allegations.
It is believed some claims go back decades when Mr Doyle taught at Geelong Col- lege in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Others are believed to in- volve his time as lord mayor, a role he relinquished last year after the sex scandal emerged.
Mr Kennett weighed into the issue as real estate agent Kharla Williams became the first woman to publicly identify herself as one of several females who have complained to Victoria Police about Mr Doyle.
Ms Williams was allegedly touched inappropriately on the thigh at a Melbourne Health dinner in 2016, and said she went to police because investigations by the City of Melbourne and the Health Department were not re- solved. Mr Doyle has denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Kennett had initially supported Mr Doyle when claims first surfaced that he had allegedly assaulted former city councillor Tessa Sullivan in 2017, and had inappropriately touched and kissed Cr Cathy Oke.
“I was supportive of him because I knew him well and never saw these performances,” he said yesterday
But Mr Kennett said he now felt “let down and disap- pointed”, and “terribly saddened” for the women
“I am quite convinced it was a combination of alcohol and probably hubris,” he said.
A City of Melbourne spokeswoman said the council had always sought to ensure its independent investigation was progressed as quickly as possible having regard to the interests of all parties. “The City of Melbourne believes that the conduct of the investigation has been beyond reproach in this respect,” she said.