1. Robert Doyle was previously Member for Malvern in the Legislative Assembly of Victoria from 1992 to 2006 and Leader of the Victorian Opposition from 2002 to 2006, representing the Liberal Party.
28 Facts About Robert Doyle
1. 2.
Robert Doyle graduated from Monash University in 1977, and the following year began work as a teacher at Geelong College, his alma mater.
3.
At the 1992 state election, Doyle succeeded in winning Liberal preselection for the electorate of Malvern by defeating Geoff Leigh.
4.
Kennett's deputy and Health Minister, Denis Napthine, became leader, and Robert Doyle became shadow Health Minister.
5.
Robert Doyle successfully challenged Napthine for the leadership of the state Liberal Party, claiming that the party was "facing political oblivion" if it stayed under Napthine's leadership.
6.
Robert Doyle lost the 2002 election by a large margin; the result was in fact the worst showing for the main non-Labor party in Victoria since it adopted the Liberal banner in 1945.
7.
The Liberals were further crippled when the Shadow Treasurer, Robert Doyle Dean, was deemed ineligible to stand because he had failed to update his voter registration after moving to a new electorate; under Victorian law, he was no longer on the electoral roll.
8.
For some time after the 2002 defeat, Robert Doyle remained Opposition Leader, partly through the sheer shortage of potential alternative candidates for the job in the much-reduced Liberal party room.
9.
Robert Doyle officially ended his term as a Member of Parliament for the District of Malvern on 25 November 2006.
10.
On that day, the Liberals under Baillieu were again severely defeated; and as a result, Robert Doyle publicly criticised several prominent party figures.
11.
When Lord Mayor of Melbourne John So announced his decision not to contest for a third consecutive term in early October 2008, Robert Doyle emerged as a contender for the Lord Mayoralty in November 2008.
12.
Robert Doyle selected John So's deputy between 2001 and 2004, Susan Riley, as his running mate.
13.
On 30 November 2008, Robert Doyle was elected Lord Mayor, defeating Councillor Catherine Ng in a tightly contested election.
14.
Robert Doyle defeated former Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor and Spotless heir-apparent, Peter McMullin and So's deputy between 2004 and 2008, Gary Singer.
15.
On 27 October 2012, Robert Doyle was re-elected as Lord Mayor, with an increased majority, defeating high-profile candidate, Gary Morgan and former Councillor and Lord Mayor Candidate, Catherine Ng.
16.
On 11 November 2015, Robert Doyle announced that he will run again for the office of Lord Mayor in the elections to be held in October 2016.
17.
Many of Robert Doyle's policies have been around 'activating' Melbourne as a night time city in conjunction with the Andrews' Government introduction of 24-hour public transport on weekends, extending hours of hospitality operation and continued support of 24-hour arts festivals.
18.
In July 2016 Robert Doyle announced that the homelessness problem in the Melbourne central business district had reached "emergency" levels.
19.
Robert Doyle has been a vocal supporter of marriage equality, and has appeared regularly on LBGTI radio station Joy 94.9 as a prominent conservative politician.
20.
Robert Doyle made an election promise to return private vehicle traffic to Swanston Street, which had for several decades been open to limited but mostly pedestrian traffic.
21.
Robert Doyle raised the idea of a theme park to attract children to the CBD.
22.
Robert Doyle was quick to vow to rid the Melbourne city centre of "bogans" and "untalented" buskers.
23.
Robert Doyle has openly criticised the state government's handling of Melbourne Docklands, claiming that it lacks 'social glue' and character and wanting more control over the precinct's planning expressing the desire to see more open space in the form of a large park and Venice style canals.
24.
On 15 December 2017, City of Melbourne councillor Tessa Sullivan, who was elected on the same ticket as Robert Doyle, resigned from the council and lodged a complaint against Robert Doyle with City of Melbourne chief executive, Ben Rimmer.
25.
Robert Doyle announced he would take a month's leave while an investigation was carried out, stressing that his standing aside "must not be interpreted as any concession or admission".
26.
The third complainant alleged that Robert Doyle had "touched her repeatedly under the table on her upper thigh and made offensive remarks to her at a medical awards ceremony held by Melbourne Health in June 2016".
27.
Robert Doyle refused to participate in the investigation on the grounds of ill health.
28.
In 2017, Robert Doyle was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for his contribution to community service.