Claims late Labor senator Kimberley Kitching had been ostracised by members of her own party were "distressing" and shouldn't be dismissed, according to the prime minister.
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Scott Morrison said the claims about Senator Kitching's treatment by fellow party members was concerning and should be examined.
The comments come after The Australian newspaper reported on Wednesday that Senator Kitching was accused of leaking to the Liberals, benched from the party's tactics committee and ostracised by the senior leadership team.
"These are distressing claims and I don't think they can just be dismissed," Mr Morrison told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.
"These reports of her treatment are not ones that I can confirm, but there's certainly things that I would expect not to be dismissed and to be taken seriously and addressed.
"(Her death) was a terrible shock to us all."
Senator Kitching died last week, aged 52, from a suspected heart attack.
Her close friend and former Labor leader Bill Shorten later said the Victorian senator had been under stress due to internal party politics and a pre-selection battle.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese denied Labor had a cultural problem, and said the senator's sudden death was tragic.
He said it was disrespectful to brand senators Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher as 'mean girls' - after they were named by The Australian in a report on the alleged treatment of Senator Kitching.
"I find that extraordinarily disrespectful to describe strong, articulate, principled women," he told reporters in Brisbane.
He said senior male politicians would not be described in the same way.
Mr Albanese says he respected Senator Kitching and appointed her as an assistant shadow minister when he became opposition leader.
"Out of respect for Kimberley, I think the idea that people go into who might have had a disagreement here or there is totally unbecoming," he told the Nine Network.
"I'm going to pay respect to Kimberley Kitching by treating her with the respect that she deserves.
"She made a contribution for too short a time to the Labor party and to the Labor cause. Her family and friends are really hurting today."
Asked if there was a cultural problem with senior women within the opposition, Mr Albanese said "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," he said.
"I'm proud of all of the people in the leadership team of the Labor party."
Senator Gallagher told the ABC "many" of the assertions in the article were incorrect from her point of view but refused to discuss the specifics.
"I just don't think it's respectful for us to enter into commentary or disagreement of (the article) at this point in time," she said.
"I don't think it's right."
Australian Associated Press
