Federal MP Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell) was one of many politicians from all sides of the political spectrum who expressed shock at the death of ALP Senator Kimberley Kitching on Thursday.
Barely a week after cricketer Shane Warne, 52, died of a heart attack, Senator Kitching, also 52, died of a suspected heart attack. Ms Vamvakinou told Neos Kosmos that she was shattered to hear of the senator’s death.
“It was only last Saturday that we were together at an Australia-India Council dinner. Kim and I were both members on the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and also on the Human Rights sub-committee.
“We worked together on a range of foreign affairs issues and share that in common. She was very well read, very bright and was multilingual. She had a very cosmopolitan outlook which, I believe, is important for a federal member of parliament. She was passionate about her work and understood Australia’s multicultural communities” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“My parting words on Saturday were that we should meet for a coffee at Psarakos Brothers in Thornbury and buy some honey. She had discovered wild thyme honey (thymarisio) from Crete and really liked it.
“I feel deeply for her husband Andrew Landeryou, her family and friends. I know that many of our parliamentary colleagues will be feeling desperately sad about Kimberley’s passing,” Ms Vamvakinou said.
Senator Kitching had played a key role in passing the Magintsky laws that are aimed against human rights abusers and are the instrument being used by the Australian government in its response to the war in Ukraine to place restrictions on Russian oligarchs.
Adelaide Federal MP Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh) said Senator Kitching had recently received an international human rights prize and had travelled to London to receive it.
“I was saddened by the news. She was a good friend and colleague. She was a good parliamentarian who constantly raised the issue of human rights. Our condolences to her husband and family,” said Mr Georganas.
Liberal MP for Reid, Dr Fiona Martin expressed her sadness on hearing the news of the the Senator’s death.
“Senator Kitching was a strong and tireless advocate for Victorians and all Australians. She was never afraid to speak her mind and stand up for her values. I admired her passion and dedication to her work. Senator Kitching was one of our great parliamentarians, and she was respected by all sides of politics. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts and sympathies are with Senator Kitching’s family” Dr Martin said in a statement to Neos Kosmos.
Former Labor Party leader Bill Shorten was a close family friend and said he had been called to the street where her body lay in Strathmore, the ABC reported.
In 2016, Mr Shorten had endorsed Ms Kitching to replace Senator Stephen Conroy after the 2016 election. The late senator was facing a pre-selection challenge with members of the party’s right faction in Victoria refusing to endorse her earlier. Mr Shorten said “the stress of politics and the machinations in the backrooms had its toll.”
The Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said Senator Kitching was vivacious character.
“No-one could have anticipated this. And people were ringing each other, I think, multiple times to get confirmation because it was such a shock,” Mr Albanese told the ABC.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement on Thursday that Senator Kitching’s death, at 52, was “a deep and terrible shock”.
“She demonstrated that her passion for her country was always greater than any partisan view. She clearly loved her country and it genuinely showed. She was respected by those on both sides of the Parliament – she was a parliamentarian in the truest sense. Senator Kitching was deeply respected by the Coalition.
“To Senator Kitching’s family I extend the sympathies of the Government,” the Prime Minister said.
