Ex-mayor report shame

FORMER lord mayor Robert Doyle sexually harassed two fellow City of Melbourne councillors, a council investigation has found.

The explosive report by a top silk confirmed four findings against Mr Doyle, including that he touched the breast of former councillor Tessa Sullivan in the mayoral car.

Two other findings related to sexual harassment. A fourth concerned Mr Doyle’s “substantial” consumption of red wine, which the probe said had been a significant factor in his inappropriate behaviour.

In a day of high drama: THE report said the council was at times sexualised by Mr Doyle’s acts. CITY CEO Ben Rimmer said it had not been a safe workplace for the two women involved. NO adverse findings were made in relation to several other matters raised by Ms Sullivan. MR Doyle continued to deny all allegations against him. AN investigation into another alleged incident involving Mr Doyle was suspended pending his ability to respond.

Ms Sullivan, a former Team Doyle member who resigned from the council last December, tweeted after the release of the findings: “This proves what I & many know: Robert Doyle is a sexual predator with a serious history of offending.

“The findings reflect the high bar for gross misconduct & in no way detract from the other claims in the full report. I am relieved the truth is out & he can no longer violate women.”

But Mr Doyle’s wife Emma Page-Campbell said in a statement that only one of the eight initial allegations concerning Ms Sullivan had been upheld.

“This finding, however, is not accepted by Robert and, furthermore, is not corroborated by a witness who has been publicly reported as saying that the incident did not and could not have taken place,” she said.