“These processes have been in place since 2018. And they were improved with the unanimous support of every member of the ALP caucus and every member of the ALP national executive in 2021 following an extensive review and improvement of these processes led by Sharon Claydon and women members of the ALP national executive and caucus,” he said.
“And everyone was a part of that process. We have an ongoing process that people can participate in. We can always do better. I will say this. The Labor family are mourning the passing of Kimberley Kitching.”
A week after Senator Kitching’s death on March 10,Labor head office quietly sent a note to party members on Thursday and Friday seeking expressions of interest in joining a new national complaints panel that will determine penalties for members who breach the party’s code of conduct on bullying,discrimination and sexual harassment. The code was formalised in February 2021.
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“All panel members will be required to undergo training on trauma-informed responses to allegations of sexual harassment,bullying and harassment,and on the detail of the new policies,relevant procedures and documentation as a condition of appointment and before hearing any matters,” the note said.
Senator Kitching’s funeral will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne on Monday and a who’s who of Labor luminaries led by Mr Albanese and former party leader Bill Shorten,who was a close friend of Senator Kitching,will attend. Mr Shorten and Senator Kitching’s husband,Andrew Landeryou,are expected to speak during the service.
Asking not to be named so they could speak freely,people close to Senator Kitching said she had been ostracised by Labor colleagues in Canberra,that her preselection for the Senate,along with fellow Victorian senator Kim Carr,had been under a cloud for months and that an inquiry could get to the bottom of allegations about her treatment that had been raised following her death.