Bill Shorten has acknowledged former Labor MP Emma Husar was treated poorly by some people within the party as she threatens legal action over sexual harassment claims.
Ms Husar wants an apology from Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese over claims people within the Labor Party leaked false information about her exposing herself to a colleague in 2017.
Mr Shorten, who was opposition leader when the alleged incident took place, said Ms Husar was on the receiving end of some unfair treatment.
"I regret the way she was treated," he told ABC News on Monday.
"I don't say that covers all the matters but I do think there were some people in NSW Labor who didn't treat her well.
"Emma and I have had our own conversations on this matter so I do, in part, feel for her. I don't think she was all in the wrong here."
Mr Shorten would not be drawn on whether Ms Husar deserved an apology.
An internal party review released in 2018 found complaints that Ms Husar subjected staff to "unreasonable management" through unreasonable communication, demands, practices and disciplinary methods had merit.
It also found claims she misused public entitlements should be investigated.
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.
