Federal Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese kept leader Bill Shorten in the dark about workplace misconduct allegations against caucus colleague Emma Husar, despite knowing about an investigation for three weeks.
Ms Husar has taken personal leave as NSW Labor investigates allegations she bullied and harassed former staff in her Lindsay electorate office.
Labor leader Bill Shorten says he was made aware of it last week - a statement met with incredulity by the prime minister and senior government members.
"What other gossip other people have had, that's up to them. But both the NSW branch and Anthony have confirmed neither told me about the investigation," Mr Shorten told reporters in Tasmania on Thursday.
However, Mr Albanese says he had first heard about it during the NSW Labor conference over three weeks ago.
"I knew at least a number of weeks ago, whenever the state conference was. People raised it with me there," Mr Albanese said in Brisbane.
"I had heard something beforehand about the administrative committee setting up a process with Mr Whelan, the details of which I wasn't aware."
A NSW Labor spokesperson told AAP the branch had briefed Mr Shorten on the independent investigation led by barrister John Whelan following an enquiry from Buzzfeed News.
The leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten insists that he found out about the probe last Wednesday. Source: AAP
"Labor's internal procedures for any assessment under the code of conduct sees the relevant state or federal leader advised of the recommendations at the conclusion of the investigation," the spokesperson said.
Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Shorten's explanation of finding out last Wednesday "stretches credulity".
"I find it hard to believe, as hard to believe as anyone else does," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Tasmania.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said all parties involved in the investigation deserved natural justice and due process.
"It's in everybody's interest we get to the bottom of this quickly and thoroughly," she told ABC radio on Thursday.
Ms Plibersek said she wasn't aware a senior staffer had been drafted into Ms Husar's office to address high turnover, as reported by News Corp.
Footage aired on the Seven Network purportedly showed one of Ms Husar's staff walking her dog through Penrith and cleaning up after it, but Mr Shorten said the animal was a support dog for her autistic son.
