Three Labor senators have denied bullying allegations levelled against them in the wake of the death of Labor senator Kimberley Kitching.
Reports emerged about the stress the late senator had been under within her own party before her death from a suspected heart attack, with Labor senators Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher named in media reports as having ostracised her.
Labor frontbenchers and the three senators had refused to comment on the allegations, saying commentary would detract from the focus on Senator Kitching’s life and achievements.
But in a joint statement released on Friday, the three said it was now necessary to respond given the “hurtful statements” that continue to be made.
“Out of respect for (the family) and for Senator Kitching, we have not responded to allegations that have been made, despite them not being true,” the statement said.
“This has been hard, but we believed it to be the right thing to do to maintain some dignity for all concerned.
“(But) given the hurtful statements that continue to be made we feel it necessary to respond.
“The allegations of bullying are untrue. Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison seized on the statement and asked why the Labor leader wouldn’t answer questions on the allegations.
“Where is Anthony Albanese … on this issue?” Mr Morrison told reporters on Friday.
“There are many questions that have been put here. He’s got some uncomfortable questions that he needs to answer in relation to the conduct of his own party, but that’s for him to address.”
Speaking on Adelaide radio station 5AA earlier in the day, Mr Albanese said it was unfortunate the late senator’s death had been politicised.
“The people who’ve been targeted here – Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher – are people I’m very proud to have as part of my team,” he said.
“That’s not to say that we can’t always look to do better. Politics is a really tough business.”
The three senators said they will attend the funeral on Monday, following engagement with Senator Kitching’s family.
“We will do so to recognise and respect her contribution to public life,” they said in their statement.
“People are grieving and hurting. Our priority at this time has been Senator Kitching’s husband, Andrew, her family and her loved ones. Their grief is profound, their loss immeasurable.”
The government will be represented at the funeral by Senate leader Simon Birmingham, with Mr Morrison slated to be in Brisbane for government announcements.
Former Labor MP Emma Husar, who has been a vocal critic of the ALP’s culture, levelled her own accusation of bullying against Senator Keneally and members of the party’s leadership.
“I have certainly been on the receiving end of Kristina Keneally’s treatment and I’ve been on the receiving end of quite a number of other senior women within the Labor Party who behave in such a way,” she told Nine on Friday.
Ms Husar denied she had an axe to grind against Labor after leaving parliament following allegations of bullying by her.
“There was nothing substantiated. Not a single witness turned up to the BuzzFeed defamation case to support any of those allegations,” she said.
“What I want to see is that politics becomes a really safe place for women and currently party politics is not safe for women.”
An internal party review released in 2018 found merit in complaints that Ms Husar subjected staff to “unreasonable management” through communication, demands, practices and disciplinary methods.
But the investigation found allegations of sexual harassment and misleading parliament were not supported and there was no basis for Ms Husar to resign in 2019.
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
