A second investigation has been launched into the lord mayor of Melbourne city council, Robert Doyle, over sexual harassment allegations, which he denies. The fresh investigation will be conducted for the Victorian health department.
Dr Ian Freckelton QC began an investigation into Doyle on behalf of the City of Melbourne in December after councillor Tessa Sullivan resigned and made a formal complaint about Doyle.
She alleged he grabbed her breast and made sexually explicit comments to her. A second councillor, Cathy Oke, told investigators that Doyle had once tried to kiss her and, on another occasion, clutched her thigh under a table.
The state’s health minister, Jill Hennessy, announced Charles Scerri QC would lead the investigation on behalf of the government following reports by Fairfax media on Wednesday that a third woman had come forward.
The woman alleged Doyle sexually harassed her at the Melbourne Health medical awards ceremony in 2016, touching her on her upper thigh repeatedly under a table and making inappropriate remarks. Doyle is chair of the board of Melbourne Health.
“Until the investigation is concluded, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment,” Hennessy said.
The woman told Fairfax she attended the awards ceremony to support her husband, a senior specialist at the hospital, who had been invited to accept an award.
She was placed at a table seated next to Doyle. She said she asked her husband to swap seats with her because Doyle was making her feel so uncomfortable.
These reports were confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Royal Melbourne hospital, who said the hospital was supporting the family of a staff member since becoming aware of the alleged incident.
Scerri will work with Freckelton throughout the investigation. While Freckelton was expected to report the findings of his investigation by the end of the month, the third allegation means that report may be delayed.
Doyle told Guardian Australia through a spokeswoman: “As I have said previously, I strongly deny the suggestion that I behaved in an inappropriate manner.
“As these matters are being addressed within the confines of the investigation, it is not something on which I will comment further.”
