Senior Labor frontbencher Penny Wong has revealed she apologised to the late Senator Kimberley Kitching for making a hurtful gibe during a meeting in 2019 but has rejected bullying accusations levelled at her and colleagues Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher.
Senators Wong, Keneally and Gallagher — who Senator Kitching reportedly referred to as the "mean girls" — have hit back at claims that they chastised, ostracised and isolated the late Senator during her time in Parliament.
As revealed by the ABC, Senator Kitching complained to a parliament-employed workplace trainer in November last year that she was being bullied.
"The allegations of bullying are untrue," the three senators said in a joint statement.
"Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate."
But Senator Wong has not disputed a report, by the ABC, about a hurtful comment she made towards Senator Kitching during an ALP tactics meeting in 2019.
Senior Labor figures were debating whether to back a Greens Senate motion expressing support for school children engaging in "civil disobedience" at climate protests.
Senator Kitching was adamant the party should not support the motion, arguing it would be an exercise in futile "virtue signalling", observing that some parents might want their kids to be at school.
Senator Wong shot back at her: "Well, if you had children, you might understand why there is a climate emergency."
In her statement, Senator Wong said she "deeply regrets" the comment and said she had apologised to Senator Kitching when the remarks were first reported.
"After these matters were publicly reported, more than two years ago, Senator Wong discussed the matter with Senator Kitching and apologised," the statement read.
"The comments that have been reported do not reflect Senator Wong's views, as those who know her would understand, and she deeply regrets pain these reports have caused."
Senators Wong, Keneally and Gallagher confirmed they would be attending Senator Kitching's funeral on Monday, following "engagement" with her family.
Senator Kitching's sudden death last week, aged 52, has prompted anger within ALP ranks about the way she was treated by her party and her colleagues.
Federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has ruled out an investigation into the claims of bullying and mistreatment and, until now, his senior colleagues have refused to directly address the allegations, "out of respect" for the late Senator.
But pressure is mounting on Mr Albanese, with senior government minister Peter Dutton suggesting Parliament may "initiate" its own investigation if he does not.
"If Anthony Albanese, as the leader of the Labor Party, is not going to initiate some process, then alternatives should be looked at," he told Channel Nine.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison accused Mr Albanese of going into hiding after the Labor leader refused to take journalists' questions while campaigning in Adelaide yesterday.
"Where is Anthony Albanese? Where is he on this issue?" he asked.
"Frankly as soon as things get a bit difficult for the leader of the opposition, he goes missing. He vanishes."
Emma Husar raises fresh accusations
In the midst of public scrutiny over Labor's workplace culture, a former MP with deep grievances over her treatment by Caucus colleagues has stepped forward with another set of accusations.
Emma Husar — who held the seat of Lindsay for the ALP from 2016 to 2019 — claims the "toxic culture" in the party, and stress of being "bullied by powerbrokers", caused her to develop a heart condition.
"I developed a leaky mitral valve condition in my heart and had to see a cardiologist," she told The Daily Telegraph.
She is now directing her anger squarely at current Opposition Leader, Mr Albanese, saying his outrage over the use of the term "mean girls" was a form of gaslighting.
"A woman lost her life and there were circumstances that point to the Labor Party, but what Albo is doing here (by turning the phrase around) is absolute gaslighting," she said.
"This is the phrase Kimberley Kitching used to describe her [alleged] bullies.
"We both had a right to be safe in our workplaces and we were not. It's disgraceful."
Mr Albanese said he was sad to hear of Ms Husar's health issues and wished her all the best for her future.
His deputy, Richard Marles, said no party was perfect but that Labor was striving to improve its culture.
"Not for a moment do I think we're perfect, and nor do I think issues around culture are limited to one side of politics," Mr Marles told Channel Nine.
"We seek to have an excellent culture and that means we need to be constantly examining ourselves, reviewing our processes and making sure they're best practice."
