Labor rebel Fatima Payman’s warning to Anthony Albanese after she was suspended over rogue act
Fatima Payman, senator for the Labour Party, says she will return to the plenary to show her support for Palestine, despite warnings from the prime minister and other senior government leaders.
Senator Payman was suspended from the caucus for one meeting after breaking caucus rules last week by voting in support of a Greens motion calling for statehood for Palestine.
“Will you abide by the decisions of the Caucus going forward?” she was asked by Insiders host David Speers.
“If the recognition of the state of Palestine were brought forward tomorrow, I would cross the floor,” she said.
The 29-year-old Muslim senator from Western Australia said she has respect for Premier Anthony Albanese, who she said had a “firm but fair conversation” with her after she left the chamber.
Mr Albanese suspended her for the remainder of the term.
“That is the privilege and the decision that the prime minister came to,” she said in a pre-recorded interview.
‘When I took the decision in the Senate to cross, I did so knowing that it could lead to expulsion and cost me my Labour membership.’
Renegade Labor Party senator Fatima Payman (pictured) says she will cross the floor again to support Palestine despite prime minister’s warnings
Senator Payman said she wanted to remain in the Labor party but realised her actions had upset some colleagues.
“I understand that there have been several colleagues who have been angry and frustrated with me. I’ve been given the cold shoulder,” she said.
“But there is an overwhelming majority who have stood up in solidarity and carried out their welfare checks.
“And I know there are members of the Caucus who have been committed to this issue longer than I have been on Earth.”
Senator Payman said she took this action because Palestinians are suffering from the war between Hamas and Israel.
“These Palestinians don’t have 10 years, and that’s why, as a senator, I will do everything in my power to continue to advocate for a just and lasting solution,” she said.
“And I think that’s what honest Australians want.”
The 29-year-old Muslim senator from Western Australia said she respected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured)