The Silence Breaker

As the #MeToo movement sweeps the globe, women across Australia are increasingly speaking out against institutional sexual abuse, assault and workplace harassment. Lucie Morris-Marr meets three women who have turned their experiences into a powerful platform for zero tolerance

- Lucie Morris-Marr

THE WHISTLE BLOWER

TESSA SULLIVAN

After being sexually harassed by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, Tessa Sullivan lodged a formal complaint, which resulted in Doyle’s resignation and the tightening of the law around conduct in government.

Former Melbourne City councillor Tessa Sullivan can be credited for single-handedly changing the political face of the city. But it’s clear the tumultuous path from a low-profile council official to well-known silence breaker has at times been devastating for the mother of three. The 34-yearold resigned from her post in December last year and made allegations of sexual assault and harassment against the then Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, who later resigned.

“I don’t sit here going, ‘Bravo, I’ve made all this change,’ ” she tells marie claire from her home in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak. “I wish it had never happened in the first place; it’s been hell. But I’m proud of the fact I helped make changes to the law and that I was the first woman to call Doyle out for his behaviour. Hopefully I will be the last person he has abused.”

Tessa never imagined the situation that would unfold when she joined the City of Melbourne Council on the “Team Doyle” ticket in October 2016. Like many women returning to work after having children, “I just wanted to do a job of substance where I would feel fulfilled and valued,” she says.