Penny Wong has admitted she regrets an “insensitive” comment to fellow Labor colleague Kimberley Kitching about being childless, but has denied she bullied the late senator before her death.
The Senate leader made the comments after more than a week of allegations she and fellow frontbenchers Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher “bullied and isolated” their colleague.
“No, I did not,” Ms Wong told Today when asked ifxjmtzyw she partook in any bullying.
“There have been many views shared and some claims made. We put out a statement that made clear and I again make clear that we have chosen not to respond. We have chosen not to debate them (the claims).
“And we haven’t done that because we’re not able to, we’ve done it because we didn’t think it was the right thing to do.”
Senator Kitching died in Melbourne on March 10 from a suspected heart attack, something her supporters claimed was related to pressure surrounding her role in the party.
Senator Wong admitted in one discussion with her late colleague she said: “Well if you had children, you might understand why there is a climate emergency”.
However, she now says the quip was “insensitive” given Senator Kitching was unable to have children and she regretted it.
“My motivation was to express the distress that many children feel about climate change,” she said.
“But what I said was insensitive. I regret it. I apologised, as I should, when I became aware that she — how she felt about it.”
Senator Wong and her accused colleagues released a statement earlier this week which made no comment on whether an inquiry should be held into the matter.
“Given the hurtful statements that continue to be made we feel it necessary to respond,’’ the statement read.
“The allegations of bullying are untrue. Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate.
“Politics is a challenging profession. Contests can be robust and interactions difficult. All of its participants at times act or speak in ways that can impact on others negatively. We have and do reflect on this, as individuals and as leaders.”
