Anthony Albanese hits out after ‘disrespectful’ questions about Labor ‘mean girls’ report
Anthony Albanese has hit back after being grilled by Today’s Ally Langdon about reports of a “mean girls” culture within the Labor party.
Anthony Albanese has lashed out at the use of the term “mean girls” to describe the conduct of Labor Senate leader Penny Wong and others in the wake of Senator Kimberley Kitching’s death.
Senator Kitching’s sudden death from a suspected heart attack last week has opened a Pandora’s Box of allegations that she was stressed and ostracised by colleagues before her death.
Mr Albanese was grilled about reports of a culture problem within ALP during a heated interview on the Today show with Ally Langdon, and then again at a press conference in Brisbane.
“I find it astonishing that in 2022, I get a question using the term ‘mean girls’,‘’ Albanese said.
“I find that extraordinarily disrespectful to describe strong, articulate, principled women like Penny Wong, Katy Gallagher and Kristina Keneally. I find it astonishing and a throwback. Decades. Decades.
“And when I saw that headline this morning, I just thought it was disrespectful to them. It‘s also disrespectful to Kimberley Kitching as a colleague. The Labor Party family is mourning Kimberley Kitching’s loss.
“It was a tragic loss. It was sudden. It was not expected. Her funeral isn’t till Monday. Can people be a bit respectful at this point in time?”.
Asked again if he would investigate the culture Mr Albanese said, “You again use the term. I find it astonishing, frankly.”
Scott Morrison has demanded the Labor Party investigate allegations of a “mean girls” culture as he paid tribute to the late Senator Kimberley Kitching.
“These are very distressing (allegations) and I don’t think they can just be dismissed, they obviously need to be addressed,” Mr Morrison said.
“These reports of her treatment are not ones that I can confirm, obviously, as the leader of the Liberal party, but they’re certainly things that I would expect to be taken very seriously and addressed.
“The reason she had so many friends on our side is because she stood up very strongly for issues of our national security and sovereignty.”
Labor Senator Kristina Keneally told news.com.au that “out of respect for Kimberley and family I won‘t engage in these discussions”.
“Kimberley‘s death is a shock. There are things being said now that are not true, but given all the grief and distress, it would be unseemly and inappropriate to argue about these assertions now,” she said.
Earlier, former Victorian Labor MP Michael Danby claimed Kimberley Kitching was subjected to “bullying” from members of the Labor Party.
He was one of the last people to see her alive after he had lunch with her and a small group of friends on the day of her death.
“I don‘t want people to think Kimberley was being a wilting flower, or too precious or that you couldn’t stand the bait,’’ he said.
“She was a strong woman. She was able to stand up to this for more than 12 months.”
News.com.au understands before her death Senator Kitching complained directly to Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles that she was being treated poorly in the Senate, but the ALP now says “out of respect” to her death they won’t investigate the claims.
Friends of Senator Kitching have been speaking out in the wake of the Victorian Senator’s shock death from a suspected heart attack. Senator Wong has declined to comment on the claims of tensions.
The claims include that Senator Kitching was falsely accused of disloyalty and kicked off Labor’s tactics committee after a meeting with Labor’s deputy Senate leader Kristina Keneally where she believed she was denied procedural fairness.
She also complained she was “frozen out” by Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong and Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher.
During this period, she was suffering from an underlying thyroid condition and lost a substantial amount of weight. She collapsed last week in Melbourne with her husband Andrew and former Labor leader Bill Shorten rushing to the scene. An ambulance crew could not revive her.
Labor Senator Katy Gallagher said that some of the claims in The Australian’s article outlining a “mean girls” cutlure were not correct.
“I’ve seen the article and I think Senator Kitching’s death last week was a huge shock and deeply distressing to everyone who knew her,” she told ABC radio.
“Many of the assertions in the article are not true from my point of view.
“But I just don’t think it’s respectful for us to enter into commentary or disagreement about particular aspects of it at this point in time. I don’t think it’s right.”
While marking International Women’s Day, Senator Gallagher said: “The Senate can be a serious place but it’s also a lot of fun with these 2!”, posting an image of Senator Wong and Senator Keneally.
“I’m so lucky to be able to work alongside competent and inspiring Labor women every day. Here’s to more sitting week smiles,” she wrote on Twitter.
Senator Wong replied, “Straight back at you sister.”
Senator Kitching had complained she was ostracised, excluded from the tactics committee, denied procedural fairness over false claims that led to her being removed from the tactics committee and asked senior figures in the ALP including deputy leader Richard Marles to intervene.
Asked if there was a cultural problem with senior women within the ALP, Mr Albanese replied, “No.”
“No. No. I’m very proud of the fact that I lead a team that has 50 per cent female and male contribution in my Shadow Cabinet. I’m proud of all of the people in the leadership team of the Labor Party,” he said.
“Be it Penny Wong, be it Kimberley Kitching made a contribution while she was there. But Kristina Keneally, Katie Gallagher, Michelle Rowland, Tanya Plibersek, Amanda Rishworth, we have an extraordinary group of talented women. They are all making a contribution.
“Kimberley Kitching is someone who I appointed to the frontbench for the first time and I was pleased with her contribution.”
Mr Albanese demoted Senator Kitching last year. She later revealed to friends she found out about it via the press release.
Everyday item pollies are talking about
The price of an Aussie staple is a hot topic in Canberra as Labor and the Coalition gear up for an election dominated by cost of living.
Gladys makes rare re-entry into politics
The former NSW premier has made a rare appearance, throwing her support behind a tech executive looking beat high-profile anti-Voice campaigner Warren Mundine.
Rudd, Wong to attend Trump’s inauguration
Despite a terse start to the relationship, Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd will be attending the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump.