has quit the Labor Party.
Last week, Payman went against the Government to vote on a motion about recognition of the state of Palestine. This is called ‘crossing the floor’. The Labor Party has strict rules restricting its members from taking this kind of action.
Following the motion, Payman was “indefinitely suspended” from official party business like meetings and committees. The Senator said she felt “exiled” by her party.
Fatima Payman
Fatima Payman became one of the youngest members of Parliament in 2022 when she was elected as a Labor Senator, aged 27.
Payman is the first member of Parliament who wears a hijab.
In May, she went against the Government’s official position when she proclaimed the war in Gaza was a “genocide”.
Motion
Last week the Greens presented a motion calling on the Senate to,as a matter of urgency.
While her party was against it, Payman voted in favour of the motion — ‘crossing the floor’.
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The Government unsuccessfully tried to make changes to the motion, qualifying that it would recognise a Palestinian state “as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace”.
Suspension
Payman was allowed to remain in the Labor Party after the motion.
However, she was suspended from federal Labor “meetings and processes” after an appearance on the ABC last weekend. Speaking on Insiders, Payman said she would cross the floor again if a similar motion was moved in the future.
This week, Payman issued a statement to say she was reconsidering her
On Thursday she announced she would quit the party.
Resignation
In an address on Thursday afternoon, Payman confirmed she has quit Labor and will now sit on the crossbench as an independent Senator.
Payman announced her resignation from the Australian Labor Party “with a heavy heart but a clear conscience.”
She added that she was “deeply torn” over the decision but said she did not believe her principles “align with those of the leadership of the Labor Party.”
