Federal Labor MP Linda Burney has announced she will take immediate leave from parliament following the sudden death of her son.

Binni Kirkbright-Burney, 33, was found dead on Tuesday night at the Burney family home in Sydney, Ms Burney said.

“I returned to Sydney last night to be with him this one last time,” the MP Burney said in a statement Wednesday morning, describing her son as a caring and loving man who struggled with mental health and with addiction.

“He tried so hard to conquer his demons as I and my family have tried so hard to support him in every way we could. He is a caring and loving man.”

Ms Burney said police had told her there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances, but the cause of her son’s death was yet to be determined.

“I don’t want to pre-empt [any] subsequent inquiry, but we all thought we were getting somewhere. I don’t know what life will be like without him.”

Opposition leader Bill Shorten led the chorus of support and sympathy for the trail blazing MP.

“I want to extend the condolences of the parliamentary Labor party and the Labor family to Linda Burney and her family,” Mr Shorten said.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like as a parent to lose your child. I know how much her son loved Linda and how much Linda loved her son.”

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge issued a statement offering support to his opposition counterpart.

“I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the Shadow Minister for Human Services, Linda Burney, and her family on the passing of her son, Binni Kirkbright-Burney,” Mr Tudge said.

“It is a terrible tragedy for any family to lose a cherished child. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at this extremely sad time.”

Cabinet minister Simon Birmingham extended condolences to Ms Burney and her family.

“The hearts, prayers, sympathies, and thoughts of all members of the nation’s parliament will be with Linda Burney and her family today,” he told reporters in Canberra.

The tragic news was met by an immediate outpouring of support on social media.

My thoughts and prayers are with my St George colleague Linda Burney and her family this morning.

— David Coleman MP (@DavidColemanMP) October 24, 2017

Gutting news for Labor's Linda Burney. She is a top person who has dealt with incredible hardships. Now this. My thoughts are with her. pic.twitter.com/mxzTb0nOHj

— Karen Barlow (@KJBar) October 24, 2017

https://twitter.com/clementine_ford/status/922955274532438016

Ms Burney was the first Aboriginal woman to be elected to the House of Representatives and the first Indigenous person to serve in the NSW Parliament.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie laid bare the challenges of parents when she spoke openly about her son’s struggle with addiction to the drug ice in 2015.

“I am a senator of Australia and I have a 21-year-old son that has a problem with ice, and yet even with my title I have no control over my son,” she said at the time.

“I can’t involuntarily detox my own son, because I am not talking to my son anymore, I’m talking to a drug.

“And I can tell you, I’m not the only parent out there. There is [sic] thousands of us.”

Readers seeking support and/or information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

– with AAP