Prime Minister to miss Senator’s funeral

SCOTT Morrison says he can’t attend the funeral of late senator Kimberley Kitching because he has announcements to make elsewhere.

Senator Kitching died of a suspected heart attack last week at 52.

The Prime Minister said his non-attendance was “appropriate” considering he barely knew the late senator.

“The government will be represented at Senator Kitching’s

funeral on Monday by … Simon Birmingham,” he said in Kalgoorlie. “I think it’s appropriate that the government’s representation be led by Senator Birmingham who obviously knew Senator Kitching well.”

It comes as three senior Labor senators accused of bullying the late Victorian confirmed they would attend.

Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher were all named this week as having allegedly “ostracised” Senator Kitching.

It’s alleged she was kicked out of a tactics committee and was not allowed to ask questions during question time.

Friends and supporters of the Victorian senator have attributed the stress over Senate preselection as a contributing factor in her unexpected death.

It’s been reported Kitching and her supporters would refer to the senators as “mean girls”.

The three in question on Friday released a statement.

“Our priority at this time has been Senator Kitching’s husband, Andrew, her family and her loved ones. Their grief is profound, their loss immeasurable,” they said.

“Out of respect for them, and for Senator Kitching, we have not responded to allegations that have been made despite them not being true.”