Melbourne lord mayor fires parting shot

MELBOURNE Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has dramatically quit amid bombshell sexual harassment allegations that have engulfed Town Hall for weeks.

But, in a sensational parting shot, Mr Doyle, 64, has maintained that he is innocent and has been denied natural justice.

Mr Doyle, who it emerged last Friday was seriously ill, has been admitted to hospital. Wife Emma Page Campbell said he was on the “brink of being broken”.

“I stand beside him. 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.”

Mr Doyle, who has also quit as Melbourne Health chair- man, bowed out before a Melbourne City Council meeting tomorrow that is due to consider a report into sexual harassment claims by excouncillor Tessa Sullivan.

She alleged Mr Doyle had behaved towards her in a sexually inappropriate way on several in 2017, including by touching her breast during a car ride home after a council meeting.

Ms Sullivan resigned from the council after accusing Mr Doyle, who stood down pending an inquiry.

Last night, declaring his innocence, Mr Doyle blasted that inquiry, conducted by Ian Freckelton, QC, at the behest of city chief executive officer Ben Rimmer.

Mr Doyle’s lawyer, Nick Ruskin, said his client had been denied natural justice.