{{Short description|Australian politician, lawyer, and trade unionist (1970–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | birth_name = Kimberley Jane Elizabeth Kitching | image = ANPB 2019 Senator Kitching 2019.10.14 07.29 DSC8147 (cropped).jpg | caption = Kitching in 2019 | office1 = Senator for Victoria | term_start1 = 25 October 2016 | term_end1 = 10 March 2022 | predecessor1 = Stephen Conroy | successor1 = Jana Stewart | birth_date = {{Birth date|1970|2|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|03|10|1970|2|16|df=y}} | death_place = Strathmore, Victoria, Australia | party = Labor | alma_mater = University of Queensland | spouse = {{marriage|Andrew Landeryou<br />|2000<!-- Per template guidelines, end date not used if marriage ends with article subject's death -->}} | relatives = Bill Landeryou <br />(father-in-law) | children = | signature = Kimberley Kitching signature 2021.svg | website = {{URL|https://www.kimberleykitching.com.au/}} }}
'''Kimberley Jane Elizabeth Kitching'''<ref name="Transcript-RoyalCom">{{cite web|title=Trade Union Royal Commission - transcript 26 August 2014|url=https://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au/Hearings/Documents/Transcripts/turc-transcript-26August2014.doc|website=Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=15 October 2016|format=DOC|date=26 August 2014|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305015948/https://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au/Hearings/Documents/Transcripts/turc-transcript-26August2014.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref> (16 February 1970 – 10 March 2022) was an Australian politician, lawyer, and trade unionist. A member of the Labor Party, she was a Senator for Victoria from October 2016 until her death.
==Early life== Kitching was born in Brisbane, the daughter of Bill and Leigh Kitching. She grew up in the suburb of St Lucia, where she was a childhood friend of Chloe Shorten. Her father was a chemistry professor and during her youth the family spent time in England, Spain, France, Germany, and the United States as her father received academic postings. Kitching completed her schooling at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and then studied arts and law at the University of Queensland. She joined Young Labor as a student.<ref name=smh>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-alp-backbencher-kimberley-kitching-may-become-a-household-name-20180301-p4z29q.html|title= Why ALP backbencher Kimberley Kitching may become a household name|first=Matthew|last=Knott|date=2 March 2018|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref>
==Pre-political career== Kitching was admitted as a solicitor by the Supreme Court of Queensland. She moved to Melbourne in 1995.<ref name=smh/> In the private sector, she worked for LookSmart before it was listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, IQ Media (the company operated by her husband Andrew Landeryou)<ref name="Millar+Schneiders-2016">{{cite news|last1=Millar|first1=Royce|last2=Schneiders|first2=Ben|title=Shorten backs controversial lawyer Kimberley Kitching for Senate|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/shorten-backs-controversial-lawyer-kimberley-kitching-for-senate-20161013-gs1cdh.html|access-date=13 October 2016|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=13 October 2016}}</ref> and Drake International, where she was the head of Government and Corporate Relations.<ref name="Statement-RoyalCom" />
From December 2012, Kitching worked as the General Manager of the Victorian No. 1 Branch of the Health Services Union,<ref name="Statement-RoyalCom">{{cite web|last1=Kitching|first1=Kimberley|title=Witness Statement|url=https://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au/Hearings/Documents/Evidence26August2014/KitchingStatement.pdf|website=Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=15 October 2016|date=23 August 2014|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305020004/https://www.tradeunionroyalcommission.gov.au/Hearings/Documents/Evidence26August2014/KitchingStatement.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="TheAge-HSU">{{cite news |last1=Schneiders |first1=Ben |last2=Millar |first2=Royce |title=Shorten's mates drive HSU branch to the brink of insolvency|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/shortens-mates-drive-hsu-branch-to-the-brink-of-insolvency-20160222-gn0waj.html|access-date=13 October 2016|work=The Age |date=23 February 2016}}</ref> leaving after a few years.<ref name="SMH-2016-10-15">{{cite news|last1=Schneiders|first1=Ben|title=Shorten has erred in backing new Senator Kimberley Kitching|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/shorten-has-erred-in-backing-new-senator-kimberley-kitching-20161014-gs2l6n.html |access-date=15 October 2016|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=14 October 2016}}</ref> In 2014, she was called to give evidence to the Royal Commission into trade union governance and corruption relating to her time with the Health Services Union.<ref name="Transcript-RoyalCom"/><ref name="Hunter-2016">{{cite news|last1=Hunter|first1=Fergus|last2=Millar|first2=Royce|last3=Schneiders|first3=Ben|title=Coalition accuses Labor of 'union stitch-up' over Senate preselection of 'dodgy' Kimberley Kitching|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/coalition-rounds-on-labors-union-stitchup-pick-of-dodgy-kimberley-kitching-to-senate-20161014-gs2fzg.html|access-date=15 October 2016|work=Sydney Morning Herald|agency=Fairfax Media|date=14 October 2016}}</ref>
In 2015 a vice president of the Fair Work Commission found that Kitching had illegally completed testing on behalf of other union officials to gain right of entry permits.<ref name="Kappelle">{{cite news|last1=Kappelle|first1=Liza|title=Kitching seems a union stitch up: Turnbull|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/shorten-lauds-kitching-for-senate/news-story/51e601cdab7d80fcf3dc3773e2a1d80b|access-date=20 October 2016|work=news.com.au|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=14 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="FWCdecision-2015">{{cite web|last1=Watson|first1=Graeme|title=2015 Fair Work Commission decision regarding Health Services Union-Victoria No. 1 Branch (FWC 3359)|url=https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/html/2015fwc3359.htm|website=Fair Work Commission|access-date=15 October 2016|location=Melbourne|date=26 June 2015}}</ref>
==Political career==
Kitching was involved in Victorian Labor politics for some time, including being vice-president of the party's Victorian Branch.<ref name="Statement-RoyalCom" /> She was a Melbourne City Councillor in the early 2000s,<ref name="Donovan+Boulton-2004">{{cite news|last1=Donovan|first1=Patrick|last2=Boulton|first2=Martin|title=Mayor thunderstruck with AC/DC|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/07/1089000225625.html|access-date=15 October 2016|work=The Age|date=8 July 2004}}</ref><ref name="Crikey-2001">{{cite news|title=Plot thickens! Dirty tricks! Amazing scenes! Media blackout!|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2001/07/01/plot-thickens-dirty-tricks-amazing-scenes-media-blackout/|access-date=15 October 2016|work=Crikey|date=1 July 2001}}</ref> and was a senior adviser to several ministries in the government of Labor premier Steve Bracks, as well as to John Lenders, the treasurer in the Brumby government.<ref name="Statement-RoyalCom" /><ref name="Australian-Kitching-leading">{{cite news |last1=Wallace |first1=Rick |title=Conroy Senate vacancy: Kimberley Kitching and Diana Taylor lead field of eight|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/conroy-senate-vacancy-kimberley-kitching-and-diana-taylor-lead-field-of-eight/news-story/6c7288d0d40c2c05227373df59b36572|access-date=13 October 2016 |work=The Australian|date=13 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="Lucas-2013">{{cite news|last1=Lucas|first1=Clay|title=Health union's new regime sacks old staff: Secretary seeks control on spending|work=The Age|agency=Fairfax Media|date=7 January 2013}}</ref>
In the 2013 Australian federal election, Kitching made a bid for Labor pre-selection for the Victorian electorates of Lalor and Gellibrand. Her bid was unsuccessful due to opposition from within the party, including from Stephen Conroy.<ref name="AAP-2016">{{cite news|title=Kitching to take Conroy's Vic senate spot|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/10/13/kitching-take-conroys-vic-senate-spot|access-date=15 October 2016|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=13 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="Millar+Schneiders-2016" />
===Senator (2016–2022)=== On 13 October 2016, Kitching won pre-selection to fill the Victorian Senate seat vacated by Stephen Conroy's resignation on 30 September.<ref name="Millar+Schneiders-2016"/><ref name="ABC-Conroy-retirement">{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Anna |last2=Anderson |first2=Stephanie |title=Stephen Conroy announces retirement; Labor colleagues caught by surprise|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-16/former-minister-stephen-conroy-announces-retirement/7851500|access-date=13 October 2016|publisher=ABC News|date=16 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="ABC-Kitching-successful">{{cite news|last1=Dziedzic|first1=Stephen|title=Stephen Conroy: Labor factional brawl ends as Kimberley Kitching replaces outgoing senator|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-13/factional-brawl-breaks-out-as-labor-seeks-to-replace-conroy/7929956|access-date=13 October 2016|publisher=ABC News|date=13 October 2016}}</ref> Kitching's pre-selection was supported by her close friend, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, and by the Labor Right.<ref name="Hunter-2016" /><ref name="Woodley-ABC">{{cite news |last1=Woodley |first1=Naomi |title=Government to target Labor's Kimberley Kitching in debate over industrial relations bill|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-17/turnbull-to-target-labor-recruit-kimberley-kitching-in-ir-debate/7937256|access-date=19 October 2016|publisher=ABC News |date=18 October 2016}}</ref> Shorten's support for Kitching generated tension in the party with frontbencher and former Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refusing to support her pre-selection,<ref name="Massola-SMH">{{cite news|last1=Massola|first1=James|title=Anthony Albanese fails to endorse Bill Shorten's key ally Kimberley Kitching for Senate|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/anthony-albanese-fails-to-endorse-bill-shortens-key-ally-kimberley-kitching-for-senate-20161017-gs4l1u.html|access-date=19 October 2016|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 October 2016}}</ref> and legal affairs spokesperson Mark Dreyfus threatening to resign from his position in the shadow cabinet, although he did not carry out the threat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mark-dreyfus-threatened-to-resign-if-bill-shorten-allowed-kimberley-kitching-senate-post-20161123-gsw3ss.html|title=Mark Dreyfus threatened to resign if Bill Shorten allowed Kimberley Kitching Senate post|last=Massola|first=James|date=24 November 2016|website=The Age|access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>
Kitching was formally chosen as a replacement Senator by a joint sitting of the Parliament of Victoria on 25 October 2016, and sworn in on 7 November 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/11/07/controversial-labor-senator-sworn|title=Controversial Labor senator sworn in|work=SBS|date=7 November 2016}}</ref>
After the 2019 election, Kitching was included in Anthony Albanese's shadow ministry as Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability. She was also made Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate.<ref name="Kitching aph">{{Cite Au Parliament |name=Senator Kimberley Kitching |mpid=247512 |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>
In February 2022, one month before her death, Kitching used parliamentary privilege to suggest to the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation that Chau Chak Wing was the wealthy businessman behind an alleged Chinese plot to interfere in Australian elections to install politicians sympathetic to the Chinese Communist Party.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Galloway|first=Anthony|date=2022-02-14|title=Labor senator names businessman as 'puppeteer' behind foreign interference plot|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/labor-senator-names-chinese-australian-businessman-as-puppeteer-behind-foreign-interference-plot-20220214-p59wd3.html|access-date=2022-02-14|website=The Age|language=en}}</ref>
===Positions=== Kitching criticised the Victorian state ALP government for its support of China's global Belt and Road Initiative, saying it "should not have entered into an agreement with the Chinese government on the Belt and Road Initiative—it is bad policy and bad optics."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/victorian-treasurer-s-china-comments-spark-outrage-among-federal-colleagues-20200519-p54uix.html|title=Victorian Treasurer's China comments spark outrage among federal colleagues|access-date=19 May 2020|website=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> In June 2020 she was announced as a founding member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bourke|first=Latika|date=4 June 2020|title=MPs from eight countries form new global coalition to counter China|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/mps-from-eight-countries-form-new-global-coalition-to-counter-china-20200604-p54zqj.html|access-date=8 June 2020|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref> In an interview on ABC radio, she said the alliance of 13 democratic nations was to see that:
<blockquote>...our rules based order is protected. There’s a great desire amongst the group to examine human rights issues. I think Western liberal democracies probably hoped that China was heading down a more liberal and democratic path. But I think when President Xi became president in 2013, that became a fainter and fainter hope.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-11|title=The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China and a trifecta of troubles in the US|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/betweenthelines/the-inter-parliamentary-alliance-on-china-and-a-trifecta-of-tro/12343286|access-date=2020-06-13|website=ABC Radio National|language=en-AU}}</ref></blockquote>
{{As of|2022}} Kitching was deputy chair of Parliamentary Friends of Israel. In February 2022, she and chair Eric Abetz issued a joint statement rejecting an Amnesty International report's "attempts to equate Israel’s efforts to the abhorrent historical practice of apartheid in South Africa".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/feb/04/there-is-a-form-of-apartheid-lnp-backbencher-urges-pm-to-face-facts-on-israel|title='There is a form of apartheid': LNP backbencher urges PM to face facts on Israel|publisher=Guardian Australia|date=4 February 2022|accessdate=4 February 2022}}</ref>
Kitching was a proponent of Magnitsky-style legislation in Australia.<ref name="abcnewsdeath"/> She had introduced a private member's bill in August 2021 before the government introduced its own bill in November 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wade|first1=Geoff|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2021/August/Australia_and_Magnitsky_legislation|title=Australia and Magnitsky legislation|publisher=Parliament of Australia|date=20 August 2021|access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Kitching was married to Andrew Landeryou, previously a well-known political blogger; her father-in-law Bill Landeryou was a state government minister in Victoria. The couple married in 2000 after meeting at a Labor fundraising night in country New South Wales. In 2001, the couple purchased Wardlow, a heritage-listed mansion in Parkville, Melbourne. The couple separated due to financial difficulties in the mid-2000s, and Kitching filed for bankruptcy in 2005, selling Wardlow to clear her debts; the bankruptcy was annulled in 2006. They did not divorce and later resumed their relationship.<ref name=smh/>
===Death and aftermath===
Kitching died from a suspected heart attack in the Melbourne suburb of Strathmore, on 10 March 2022, at the age of 52.<ref name="abcnewsdeath">{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/victorian-labor-senator-kimberley-kitching-dies/100900882|title=Victorian Labor senator Kimberley Kitching dies suddenly in Melbourne aged 52|publisher=ABC News|date=10 March 2022|accessdate=10 March 2022}}</ref> Following her death, allegations emerged that Kitching had reportedly complained about bullying by Labor's Senate leadership team, consisting of Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher. The leadership team denied the allegations and all were present at Kitching's funeral. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said Kitching had made no official complaint about the matter, and said he would not hold an inquiry into the claims.<ref name="bullying">{{cite news |title=Albanese insists Kitching did not officially complain about bullying |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-23/anthony-albanese-kimberley-kitching-bullying-allegation-inquiry/100932006 |access-date=25 March 2022 |work=ABC News |date=23 March 2022 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitching, Kimberley}} Category:1970 births Category:2022 deaths Category:20th-century Australian lawyers Category:20th-century Australian women lawyers Category:21st-century Australian lawyers Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:21st-century Australian women politicians Category:Victoria (state) local councillors Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Labor Right politicians Category:Members of the Australian Senate for Victoria Category:Members of the Australian Senate Category:Australian solicitors Category:Trade unionists from Melbourne Category:University of Queensland alumni Category:Women members of the Australian Senate Category:Women local councillors in Australia Category:People educated at Brisbane Girls Grammar School