Katy Gallagher, one of the three Labor senators at the centre of the bullying allegations relating to the late Kimberley Kitching, says she “never did anything” to deserve being “diminished” and called a “mean girl”.
Senator Kitching died at the age of 52 earlier this month of a suspected heart attack, with her death opening up allegations she had been bullied and “humiliated” at the hand of key Labor figures.
Further reports emerged Senator Kitching had described senators Gallagher, Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally as “mean girls”.
The three senators have denied any allegations of bullying, and Labor leader Anthony Albanese and deputy leader Richard Marles have defended not calling an inquiry into the allegations, because there was never an official complaint filed.
Senator Gallagher doubled down on her defence on Sunday, saying she “hadn’t heard the term (mean girls)” until it was published in The Australian earlier this month.
“It wasn’t a term that I heard Kimberley use, it certainly wasn’t a term she used directly to me,” Senator Gallagher told Sky news.
“I think it’s an unfortunate term that does diminish women.
“I don’t think I did anything that would deserve that name, but I don’t think any person deserves that name on any side of the political chamber.”
When asked whether she ever had “harsh words or difficult arguments” with the late senator, Senator Gallagher emphatically denied any such situation.
“I think people understand that within politics there are disagreements,” she said.
“It is an environment where conflict comes and people have differences of opinions. I don’t think that’s unusual, but I certainly didn’t have anything like (harsh words and difficult arguments).”
On Monday, the first sitting day since Senator Kitching’s passing, a motion of condolence will be moved in the Senate, with senators from all sides of the red chamber expected to put on the record how much they respected the Victorian Labor member.
“Bill (Shorten) summed it up last week when he said he thinks Kimberley would want us to move on and win the election,” Senator Gallagher said.
