Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle Has Quit After Being Accused Of Sexual Assault
He was hospitalised on Sunday night due to stress-related health issues.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has resigned, seven weeks after two fellow councillors accused him of sexual harassment and indecent assault.
Doyle has strongly denied the allegations made against him, which range from grasping women’s breasts and legs to making inappropriate comments and displays of affection. While he initially announced he would take a month of leave during the independent investigation, he has now decided to resign following stress-related health problems.
The former mayor was admitted to hospital on Sunday night, and his wife Emma Page Campbell said in a statement that he was “on the brink of being broken”. She said she was “disappointed that Robert has been given no benefit of the presumption of innocence” over the past seven weeks.
Doyle’s lawyer echoed these statements, saying that “following allegations seven weeks ago, he has been through a period which he feels has lacked any semblance of natural justice, where the burden of proof does not rest with proving guilt, but rather with proving innocence.”
“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.” Statement from Emma Page Campbell, wife of Robert Doyle. pic.twitter.com/4wumvJp5CW
— Farrah Tomazin (@FarrahTomazin) February 4, 2018
The council’s CEO, Ben Rimmer, meanwhile defended the investigation process, telling the ABC that it “was undertaken from a presumption of innocence, as it should”, and that “the whole purpose of the investigation is to ascertain the facts of the allegations. I cannot control the behaviour of the parties or the media.”
The ABC reports that Doyle was shown a draft copy of the independent report on the allegations against him last week, before he resigned. The investigation’s findings have not yet been made public, and may never be, according to The Age. Doyle’s alleged victims will likely receive the excerpts of the report that apply to their allegations.
A by-election will be organised soon to elect a new Lord Mayor.
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If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
The National University Support Line also offers 24/7 free trauma counselling, at 1800 572 224.
Men can access anonymous confidential telephone counselling to help to stop using violent and controlling behaviour through the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.