Remembering Senator Kimberley Kitching: A "larger-than-life" politician and human rights advocate

Remembering Senator Kimberley Kitching: A “larger-than-life” politician and human rights advocate

Kimberley Kitching

Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching died suddenly of a suspected heart attack on Thursday at the age of 52.

The news of her passing has shocked and saddened her colleagues across the political divide, with tributes remembering her “larger-than-life personality” and commitment as a human rights advocate.

Leader of the Labor party Anthony Albanese said on Thursday night: “The Labor family is in shock tonight at the tragic news that our friend and colleague senator Kimberley Kitching has died suddenly in Melbourne. My sincere condolences to her family. Kimberley will be missed by us all.”

Kitching, who was a senator for Victoria in the federal parliament since 2016, was a leading campaigner for the Magnitsky Act, laws passed last year that allow Australia to introduce targeted sanctions against foreign officials who have violated human rights.

These laws were recently used by the federal government in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, Bill Browder, said he was deeply saddened by Kitching’s death, calling her a friend and ally. “She was the driving force behind the Magnitsky Act in Australia, a true advocate of the victims of human rights abuse and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” he said on Twitter.

In a statement, former Labor leader Bill Shorten said the passing of his friend Kitching was an immense loss to Australia.

“As well as her innumerable accolades she has been a wonderful friend to myself, my wife Chloe and our family,” Shorten said.

“To know Kimberley was to be touched not just by her serene intellect but her incredible warmth and vivacity.

“As a Labor Senator she was relentlessly energetic and conscientious recently resulting in international recognition of her human rights work.

“Our hearts go out to her husband Andrew, her family and loved ones.”

Kristina Keneally wrote: “The sudden death of our Labor Senate colleague Kimberley Kitching is a shock. Tonight, my thoughts are particularly with her family. Their loss is profound”.

Senator Kimberley Kitching

Tributes flowed for Kitching from the other side of politics too, with federal health minister Greg Hunt saying, “she was always absolutely energetic and enthusiastic and had perhaps the most mischievous sense of humour in the Parliament”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Kitching’s passing was a deep and terrible shock, and paid tribute to her record as a “serious parliamentarian” with a “deep interest in Australia’s national security”. He said she was deeply respected by the Coalition.

“She had a passion about Australia’s national interest and argued for it,” he said.

“She had demonstrated that her passion for her country was always greater than any partisan view. She clearly loved her country and it genuinely showed. I came to greatly respect the way Senator Kitching approached the issues.”

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