Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says he "stepped in" over sexual harassment claims against ALP New South Wales general secretary Jamie Clements, who yesterday bowed to pressure to resign.

Senior Labor figures have welcomed Mr Clements' resignation, but several said more work needed to be done to change the party's culture for women.

A woman, Kaila Murnain, has been touted to replace Mr Clements as the party's new NSW general secretary.

Mr Clements bowed to pressure to resign late yesterday, hours after details of sexual harassment allegations made by former Labor candidate and staffer Stefanie Jones were published by News Corp.

Key points: Bill Shorten says he "stepped in" after sexual harassment claims against Jamie Clements were aired

Bill Shorten says he "stepped in" after sexual harassment claims against Jamie Clements were aired Mr Clements resigned in the wake of a report detailing the claims

Mr Clements resigned in the wake of a report detailing the claims Senior Labor figures welcome his resignation

Senior Labor figures welcome his resignation They say more needs to be done to change the party's culture for women

Mr Shorten refused to say outright that he asked for his resignation, but the ABC understands that he wanted Mr Clements gone.

When questioned on the matter today, he told the ABC that he had made his views clear.

"Without going into each conversation, and I respect the privacy of each of those conversations, I made my view very clear yesterday," he said.

"The situation needed to be resolved."

Mr Shorten denied that the resignation was called for because it reflected poorly on the party during an election year, saying instead that he wanted an end to dysfunction.

"I wanted NSW to fix it," he said. "I stepped in and they have."

He refused to speak on any potential payouts for Mr Clements, saying that the matter was being resolved by the state branch.

Acting State Opposition Leader Linda Burney, who was among those publicly calling for Mr Clements to stand down, said she was relieved he decided to go.

"I think Mr Clements' resignation does give the party clear air and it gives us the opportunity to focus on what's important ... and making sure that we are well prepared for the state conference and obviously the important federal election this year," Ms Burney said.

In his resignation statement yesterday, Mr Clements maintained he had done nothing wrong but said he did not want to distract Labor from its focus on winning the federal election.

Ms Jones accused him of pushing her against a wall and trying to kiss her in June last year, though subsequent legal proceedings were dropped.

Ms Jones described a culture of misogyny within the Labor Party and said the way it treated women was "disgusting".

Mr Clements disputed the version of events put forward by Ms Jones to News Corp and said he was disappointed that others had used the media to "pursue their own agendas".

Treatment of women needs addressing: Burney

Ms Burney said the incident had raised broader issues about the treatment of women that needed to be addressed.

"The two reports that have been prepared addressing party culture and the role of women in the party need to be implemented," Ms Burney said.

Acting Labor leader Linda Burney said more needed to be done to change the party's culture. ( ABC News: Ursula Malone, file photo )

"Whilst the Jones/Clements affair has been dealt with substantially by Jamie's resignation, it still means that we have a lot of work to do in relation to party culture and the representation of women.

"That work needs to be undertaken and I have great confidence that people are understanding of that and are enthusiastic to pursue those issues."

Federal Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen said Mr Clements made the right decision for his party as it goes into campaign mode ahead of this year's federal election.

"We intend to be very competitive. That means organisationally we need to have the best team, the best focus on the real issues that count, and Jamie Clements recognised yesterday the way he could best contribute to that is for him to move on from his role," Mr Bowen said.

Federal Labor Senator Katy Gallagher said the incident should serve as a reminder to political parties to re-examine how they deal with cases of sexual harassment and gender inequality.

Senator Gallagher told the ABC gender equality did not exist in politics.

"I can't pretend that it's not an environment dominated by men," she said.

"When an environment is dominated by men, you're going to have issues with how women are treated from time to time and I can certainly say that's been my experience.

"That's not an experience I've had through the Labor Party, that's an experience I've had through politics."

Kaila Murnain likely as new ALP boss

Assistant secretary Kaila Murnain is likely to be appointed as the party's new NSW general secretary.

She would be the first woman to hold the position and Mr Bowen said it would bring positive change to the party.

"She'll become the most senior organisational figure of any political party in Australia," he said.

"It's a great thing for women in organisational politics, a good step forward."