Lanai Scarr: How Kimberley Kitching’s widower’s heartfelt words hold a mirror to Federal Labor party

Burying your lifelong partner would be heartbreaking under the best of circumstances. Spending 20 years with the love of your life seems nowhere near long enough when she’s taken from you prematurely at the age of 52 . The good years of retirement and travelling the world together, sipping champagne for leisure, are still ahead. Such was the agonising task for Kimberley Kitching’s husband Andrew Landeryou on Monday when he buried his vivacious, intelligent, kind and patriotic wife at St Patrick’s Cathedral. It was the same East Melbourne church where on Derby Day in 2000 that the late Kitching and Mr Landeryou were married. The love poured out of a husband grieving for his soulmate on Monday. He spoke of being “mesmerised” by her 1000-watt smile and how it was love at first sight when he met her at a Young Labor event in the 1990s. Sharing a passion for former Labor prime minister Paul Keating. He spoke of her “small acts of thoughtfulness” and how on the passenger seat of the car in which she had suffered heart failure was a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne she had bought to take around to friends that evening. “Kimberley had a political and moral judgment that was far superior to the small number opposed to her internally,” Mr Landeryou told the big crowd at her funeral. He went on to say there were many loyal to Kitching who were furious with how she had been treated. “There’s a lot I could say about the unpleasantness of a cantankerous cabal — not all of them in Parliament — that was aimed at Kimba and the intensity of it did baffle and hurt her,” he said. “I hope it’s sufficient to say she deserved so very much better.” Mr Landeryou was referring to the bullying claims that have emerged since her death. Those close to Kitching, including former Labor leader Bill Shorten, said she was under immense pressure over a fiercely fought pre-selection battle. Others said she was systemically bullied by a clique of senators — former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and former ACT chief minister Katy Gallagher. The trio issued a statement late last week denying any allegations of bullying. “I do think there are times where politics should take a back seat,” Senator Wong told the Nine Network on Sunday. The treatment of women in the Federal Parliament has been heavily scrutinised this past year after the alleged rape revelations of former staffer Brittany Higgins in Linda Reynolds’ office. It followed a subsequent inquiry by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins which uncovered a toxic culture inside Parliament. Women’s issues have been at the fore since then, as they should be. Labor has been seen to be more proactive on their policies for and supporting women. As one Labor MP told me recently: “We’ve really won that argument in voters’ minds.” But the recent allegations about Kitching reveal that without the appropriate response, Labor may actually not be as ahead as it thinks it is with regards to the treatment of women. Allegations of women mistreating women could hurt at the ballot box if appropriate action is not taken. So far, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has not given ground on a potential investigation into the bullying claims. But if the alleged behaviour had happened inside the Liberal party, would Labor be letting up on calls for an investigation? Probably not. Labor is expected to make more announcements for women in their Budget reply and also during the election campaign, according to sources. The Coalition will release a women’s Budget statement and make more announcements, particularly in the women’s safety and economic empowerment space. As Kimberley Kitching was laid to rest and the allegations over her treatment in the Parliament highlighted, another very important women’s issue was being put under the microscope. The long-awaited coronial inquest into the horrific murder of Hannah Clarke, 31, and her three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4 and Trey, 3, who were burnt alive at the hands of her former partner and their father Rowan Baxter, began in Brisbane. When Ms Clarke and her children died in February 2020, Parliament stopped and held a vigil for the family and said “no more” when it came to domestic violence. Yet, despite increased attention and funding for the issue, rates of domestic violence have not reduced significantly. On average one woman dies each week in Australia at the hands of her former or current partner. Police receive 600 calls a day on domestic violence-related issues and Indigenous women are 35 times more likely to experience domestic violence than non-Indigenous women. Monday’s inquest was told how Ms Clarke screamed for help as her former partner attacked her. “Call the police, he’s trying to kill me, he’s poured petrol on me,” she shouted before her car burst into flames. Neighbour Samantha Covey told how Ms Clarke desperately tried to save her children. “I heard her say, ‘My kids, someone get my kids … I can’t believe he’s done this’,” she said. Last year a pre-inquest hearing was told that Baxter’s actions were premeditated and he had been captured on CCTV buying the equipment needed to conduct his horrific attack. He had also taken steps to try and evade Ms Clarke realising he was outside her home. The inquest will scrutinise the role of domestic violence services and police prior to the murder. On Monday Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said: “A piece of paper will never keep a woman safe or make her feel safe unless it’s enforced.” “It’s well documented that domestic violence perpetrators often do not take intervention orders seriously and even purposefully test the system to see how much they can get away with,” she said. Elections are about the future. The future of women to feel safe at work from harassers and bullies, and safe in their homes from domestic violence abusers must be high on the priority list for Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese as they vie to be prime minister after the May election. Fifty-one per cent of the population are counting on it. 1800RESPECT