Anthony Albanese grilled by ABC host Sarah Ferguson over rogue Labor senator Fatima Payman
The Prime Minister has clashed with ABC presenter Sarah Ferguson in a heated one-on-one television interview over the Labor senator voting against the party and flouting caucus rules.
Senator Fatima Payman from Western Australia crossed the floor of parliament last week and voted against Labor over a Greens proposal to recognise Palestine.
The tit-for-tat has been deafening in political circles. The prime minister has banned Ms Payman from caucus meetings, saying colleagues were trying to “intimidate” her into leaving the Senate.
On Tuesday, media reported that Payman met with a minor party political expert, leading to the conclusion that she might leave the Labour Party.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke to ABC 7.30 presenter Sarah Ferguson on Tuesday, where the two engaged in a brief conversation about the senator.
“That’s her decision,” Albanese said when asked if the senator would join the party by the end of this week.
There are also unclear links between that political pundit and a grassroots Muslim Vote movement, which is reportedly seeking federal Labor seats, riding on a wave of discontent over the government’s stance on Gaza and the issue of Palestinian recognition.
The prime minister said Ms Payman’s collaboration with such a group was not treason.
“She has decided that she cannot be limited by what our team brings together,” Mr Albanese said.
‘I would love to see her back on the team and that option is certainly there for her.
“I don’t take these issues personally… I have seen people at different times make decisions to change the direction in which they were elected. Fatima, of course, was elected as a senator from the Workers’ Party.”
Ms Ferguson asked: ‘But while we are sitting here, is it acceptable to you for someone to talk to your opponents?’
“Well, that is clearly not acceptable and that is why Senator Payman has been suspended from the caucus,” Albanese said.
ABC reporter Sarah Ferguson (pictured) interrupted the Prime Minister and asked if it was acceptable for someone to speak to their opponents
Ms Payman has announced that she will continue to vote for the recognition of the Palestinian state.
The federal parliamentary Labor Party’s position on the offensive motion was that it did not recognize Israel and therefore had no Labor Party support.