Diana Asmar reveals her best friend Kimberley Kitching’s drama-filled days before her death

The drama-filled days before Kimberley Kitching’s sudden fatal heart attack have been revealed by her best friend.

The woman who held Labor senator Kimberley Kitching’s hand as she died has revealed the heartbreaking final days of the politician’s life.

Diana Asmar, a union leader, has revealed how Labor Party bullying of her best friend made her a “physical wreck’’ and how after being told she would not be endorsed by Labor “her beautiful heart simply gave out”.

The death of the Victorian senator last week from a suspected heart attack has sparked claims she was suffering from stress after being bullied and frozen out by senior MPs in a factional dispute.

Ms Asmar, national secretary of the Health Workers’ Union, details the anxiety-filled final days of her friend’s life — and slams her treatment by MPs Penny Wong, Richard Marles and Anthony Albanese.

HWU Secretary Diana Asmar with her late friend Kimberley Kitching.

Ms Asmar said Kimberley Kitching was a “physical wreck” before her sudden death.

Senator Wong and her colleagues Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher were privately dubbed the “mean girls” by senator Kitching prior to her sudden death.

The trio have been accused by senator Kitching’s supporters of ostracising her.

Friends and colleagues of senator Kitching are pushing for an inquiry into her treatment, with senior government Minister Peter Dutton suggesting on Friday that the parliament could initiate its own probe if the Labor Party did not act.

Ms Asmar said: “She was the subject of horrendous workplace bullying at the hands of people that may go on to lead our nation.

Ms Asmar details several instances of bullying, how senator Kitching’s complaints to deputy Labor leader Mr Marles “fell on deaf ears’’, and the final meeting where Right faction bosses refused to back her preselection.

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles. Picture: David Geraghty.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: AAP Image.

After Ms Asmar told her what had happened, Kimberley “was a mess’’.

Ms Asmar described the senator as “is my best friend, she is the sister I never had’’ — and said she still could not come to terms with using the past tense to describe her.

The Saturday Herald Sun on Friday approached Mr Marles, who declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for senator Wong said: “Out of respect for senator Kitching and her loved ones, Senator Wong will not be engaging in ongoing commentary on the claims made, even if they are disputed.”

Earlier in the day, in a joint statement, senators Wong, ­Keneally and Gallagher said they had not responded to allegations that had been made against them, “despite them not being true”. However, given “the hurtful statements that continue to be made”, they felt it necessary to respond.

“The allegations of bullying are untrue. Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate,” they said.

Senator Penny Wong was dubbed one of the “mean girls”. Picture: AAP

In the statement, senator Wong also responded to allegations she had made uttered a slur at Senator Kitching for not having had children.

“After these matters were publicly reported more than two years ago, Senator Wong discussed the matter with senator Kitching and apologised,” it said.

“Senator Wong understood that apology was accepted. 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.”

The three said they would all be attending senator Kitching’s funeral.

A source close to Mr Albanese said Ms Asmar was correct when she asserted that Senator Kitching learnt of a January 2021 reshuffle from media reports, but said this had been unavoidable because of time restraints.

He rejected claims he had not congratulated her on an award for the Magitsky legislation, and said it was untrue to say that she had been refused access to Labor’s media talking points, which were available to any MP who asks for them.