Senator to Refrain from Voting Following Suspension from Labor Caucus
Senator Fatima Payman has stated that she will refrain from Senate matters for the week following her suspension from the Labor caucus.
Estranged Labor Senator Fatima Payman has written an open letter outlining her position after being suspended from the Labor Party caucus.
Last week, Ms. Payman’s conduct within the party came into question when she voted with the Greens on recognizing a Palestinian state.
Party members, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong, criticized Ms. Payman for not voting alongside Labor.
The last time a Labor member crossed the floor was in 2015.
On July 1, Ms. Payman shared an open letter on social media addressing her status within the party.
“Yesterday, the prime minister suspended me indefinitely from the Australian Labor Party caucus,” she stated.
“Since then, I have had no contact with my caucus colleagues, been excluded from meetings, committees, and internal group chats, and been instructed to avoid all chamber duties requiring a vote,” she explained.
“I have been effectively sidelined,” Ms. Payman added.
She also expressed concern that some Labor members were pressuring her to resign.
“As a result, I will refrain from voting on Senate matters for the rest of the week, unless a matter of conscience arises where I will uphold the true values and principles of the Labor Party,” she said.
“I will take this time to contemplate my future path and how best to represent the people of Western Australia.”
Payman’s Actions Do Not Align With Labor: PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need to de-escalate the debate surrounding Ms. Payman and not escalate it.
He mentioned that the slogan “From the river to the sea” has been used by both Israel and Palestine supporters advocating for a single state.
Mr. Albanese reiterated the government’s support for a two-state solution and a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
However, he criticized Ms. Payman for crossing the floor, stating that she had placed herself outside the privileges of participating in the federal parliamentary Labor Party caucus.
