Kitching to be farewelled as row over bullying claims continues
Late Victorian Senator Kimberley Kitching is set to be farewelled at a funeral service in Melbourne as questions remain on her treatment while she was in politics.
Senator Kitching died suddenly earlier this month from a suspected heart attack at the age of 52.
In the wake of her death, reports have emerged the senator was ostracised and bullied by members of Laborās senate leadership team.
Politicians from both sides of parliament will attend Kitchingās funeral at Melbourneās St Patrickās Cathedral on Monday afternoon.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his thoughts were with Kitchingās family, but indicated Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese had questions to answers about the senatorās treatment in parliament.
āThe Labor Party and Anthony Albanese in particular has been very quick to throw stones, very quick to make accusations,ā he told Brisbane radio station 4BC.
āWhen (Anthony Albanese) has to deal with the same issues in his own house, well, he shuts up shop and gets into the basement.ā
Mr Morrison said the opposition leader had dismissed the claims about Kitchingās treatment, and that he had to address them.
āThese are not things that have happened a long time ago, these are things that have just happened within weeks,ā he said.
āIt is up to (Anthony Albanese) to address these things and take them seriously at the moment.ā
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Mr Albanese expressed his respect in a tweet ahead of the funeral, writing: āKimberley Kitchingās friends, family, and colleagues from across the parliament will gather to honour and celebrate her lifeā.
āKimberley was formidable, passionate and courageous. She was the life of any room she walked into. She will be missed by those who knew her, and many more who didnāt.ā
Labor frontbencher Mark Butler said Kitchingās funeral should be a day to celebrate her life and not to bring up divisive issues .
āToday of all days is not to go into a number of the claims being made and things being said over recent days,ā he told ABC Radio.
āToday is a day for the people who knew Kimberley to get around each other, hug each other and celebrate an extraordinary life that was ended far too early.ā
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