Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese has denied the party has a cultural problem after some senior MPs were accused of ostracising the late senator Kimberley Kitching.
Mr Albanese says Senator Kitching's sudden death last week was a tragedy that hurt all of Labor and it was important she was paid due respect ahead of a funeral on Monday.
He says it's disrespectful for senators Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher - named by The Australian in a report on the alleged treatment of Senator Kitching - to be branded as "mean girls".