Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle quits amid sexual harassment claims

Robert Doyle has quit as Melbourne Lord Mayor amid an investigation into alleged sexual harassment.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has quit as he fights allegations of sexual harassment.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has quit as he fights allegations of sexual harassment. Source: AAP

Robert Doyle has quit as Melbourne Lord Mayor after being admitted to hospital amid investigations into alleged sexual harassment and indecent assault.

Mr Doyle, 64, was in December accused of sexual harassment and indecent assault by two women, including councillor Tessa Sullivan, who quit over the mayor's alleged behaviour.

On Sunday Mr Doyle quit as mayor and as chairman of Melbourne Health after being admitted to hospital, his lawyer Nick Ruskin said.

"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," Mr Ruskin said in a statement.

"The toll the last seven weeks has taken on our client cannot be underestimated. On medical advice he will need an immediate period of hospitalisation to begin his recovery. Advice is that this may be a lengthy process."

The City of Melbourne said it had not been notified of Mr Doyle's resignation when contacted for comment.

Mr Doyle is the subject of two investigations, one ordered by the council and another by Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy following a third accusation.

A woman in January alleged Mr Doyle touched her leg under a table and made offensive remarks to her at a Melbourne Health awards ceremony in 2016.

Mr Doyle's wife, Emma Page Campbell, said her husband was a "good and decent man".

"I love him. And because I love him, to watch and share what he has been through," she said in a statement.

"I am disappointed that Robert has been given no benefit of the presumption of innocence - a resort to foregone conclusions, and with none of the protections afforded even to those accused of the most horrible crimes."

Mr Doyle was elected lord mayor in 2008 and was Melbourne's longest-serving mayor.


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