Kylie Lang: Anthony Albanese’s inaction over Kimberley Kitching alleged bullying doesn’t wash with me
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese’s ongoing refusal to investigate serious allegations of bullying by senior female senators is hypocritical and shows poor leadership, writes Kylie Lang.
Kylie Lang
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Labor talks big about female representation in Parliament but I fail to see the point if these women cannibalise each other.
Mean girls who have never graduated emotionally from high school do not belong in leadership roles.
They should not be making decisions which impact our lives, and pretending to champion the cause of women, if they themselves make poor choices through spiteful behaviour.
If they deserve any platform whatsoever it is in pop culture where they can be satirised, as in the 2004 American film Mean Girls, starring Lindsay Lohan.
The movie is loosely based on Rosalind Wiseman’s nonfiction book, Queen Bees and Wannabes, which examines the horrible impacts of high school cliques and bullying on teenagers.
Labor’s alleged Queen Bees are the Senate leadership team of Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher, who have denied accusations of bullying their late colleague Kimberley Kitching.
Family and friends of 52-year-old Ms Kitching insist her treatment by the trio contributed to her death of a suspected heart attack on March 10.
At her funeral this week, Ms Kitching’s husband blamed a “cantankerous cabal” within Labor for undermining her, and said she deserved better.
I find it staggering that Anthony Albanese, who is itching to grab the keys to The Lodge in May, is dodging these very serious allegations of bullying within his party.
That should not be the end of it.
Labor has previously identified the need for behavioural change within Parliament and also for the improved treatment of women in society more broadly, yet when the proverbial hits the fan as it has with these damning allegations – including from Ms Kitching herself – the party is stunningly silent.
Mr Albanese has flat out refused an inquiry into the allegations, while others within Labor have glibly accused the Coalition of politicising the matter.
What a disgrace.
Last week Ms Wong did admit to making an “insensitive” comment to her late colleague.
It occurred at a senior Labor senate leadership meeting about climate protests in 2019 when Ms Wong told Ms Kitching, “if you had children, you might understand”.
Ms Wong fired off the hurtful barb after Ms Kitching argued a Greens Senate motion that supported school students engaging in civil disobedience at climate protests was “virtue signalling”.
She later apologised to Ms Kitching, who desperately wanted children but was unable to have any.
Last week Senators Wong, Keneally and Gallagher issued a joint statement denying all allegations of bullying against Ms Kitching.
“Politics is a challenging profession,” the statement read.
“Contests can be robust and interactions difficult. All of its participants at times act or speak in ways that can impact on others negatively. We have and do reflect on this, as individuals and as leaders.”
Reflection is not enough. Not by a long shot.
I don’t always agree with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but on Wednesday he nailed it.
“Serious allegations have been made. Not by the Liberal party, but by members of the Labor Party, about a toxic culture within the Labor Party,” Mr Morrison said.
“From what we’ve got from Anthony Albanese, at the first sign of hard questions, and we’re not even into the (election) campaign yet, he has gone into complete hiding.
“Frankly, I think it’s pretty gutless.”
In Labor’s new TV pitch to voters, Mr Albanese says Australians deserve a prime minister who “shows up” and “takes responsibility”.
I can’t speak for the 13 million women in this country, but Mr Albanese’s inaction on tackling the alleged bullying of Kimberley Kitching by three of his most senior female senators doesn’t wash with me.
If there’s one thing people are sick of in politics, it’s hypocrisy.
Actions speak louder than words. Always.
* Kylie Lang is associate editor of The Courier-Mail
LOVE
Ash Barty’s unsurprisingly gracious departure from tennis. The World No 1 said she wanted the next phase of her life to be about Ash Barty the person and not the athlete. How refreshing to hear a 25-year-old sprout wisdom that eludes many older people: we are not defined by our jobs.
Curfews for cats. Some councils around Australia will fine owners up to $1600 if their moggies are out after dark due to concern for lost wildlife.
LOATHE
Citipointe Christian College at it again. Teachers are being asked to sign employment contracts that warn they could be sacked for being openly homosexual. Earlier this year I reported the school had asked families to sign a similar contract. Backlash led to them being scrapped and the appointment of a new principal.
Dog owners who leave full poo bags on the footpath or other people’s lawns. Kind of defeats the purpose.
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