Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Robert Doyle was serving his third term as Lord Mayor of Melbourne

The Lord Mayor of Melbourne has resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him. “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.”

In December, Doyle, 64, was hit by claims of sexual harassment, indecent assault and misconduct, and stepped aside as mayor while Ian Freckleton QC launched an investigation. Mr Doyle's wife Emma Page Campbell, 43, said she was still proud of her husband despite the allegations, saying he is a 'good and decent man'. On Sunday evening, Mr Doyle released statements from his wife, Emma Page Campbell and his lawyer, Nick Ruskin from K&L Gates, but did not speak publicly himself. ‘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,’ Nick Ruskin from K & L Gates said. A lawyer, K&L Gates partner Nick Ruskin, said the toll the allegations had taken on his client “cannot be underestimated”. A third woman in January claimed Mr Doyle touched her leg under a table and made offensive remarks to her at a Melbourne Health awards ceremony in 2016. Having strenuously denied allegations of harassment and indecent assault against three women, Mr Doyle relinquished his public positions late on Sunday night from his hospital bed where he is being treated for stress-related conditions.
Robert Doyle resigns as Lord Mayor of Melbourne after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him. Melbourne City Council is investigating the allegations.