Fatima Payman should think carefully about her next steps after ditching Labor, Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has warned, claiming the rebel Senator was at risk of a “flame out.”
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “tried to handle” Senator Fatima Payman’s defection the “very best way possible”.
Ms Payman left the Labor Party after being indefinitely suspended when she warned she was prepared to cross the floor again regarding Palestine.
“I thought the suspension was the right way to go; it was saying you are welcome, Fatima, and let’s give you a bit of time and space to work it through – clearly, that’s not where her head was at, she’s walked,” Mr Shorten told Sky News Australia.
“I don’t think there’s anything else the Prime Minister could have done, frankly.”
Senator Payman officially resigned from Labor last Thursday, bringing an end to speculation over her future following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to indefinitely exile her from caucus.
Earlier, the rebel Senator had revealed her intention to cross the floor again should motions recognising the state of Palestine be tabled for a vote, in open defiance of Labor’s party line.
Following her exit from the party, it was revealed Senator Payman was meeting with controversial political advisor Glenn Druery as part of an apparent effort to chart her next steps.
Senator Payman officially resigned from Labor last Thursday, bringing an end to speculation over her future following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to indefinitely exile her from caucus. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
Speaking to Sky News Australia on Sunday, Mr Shorten warned that move could be ill-advised, claiming the rebel Senator was risking the end of her political ambitions.
“The Senate’s littered with people who have taken advice from Glenn Druery, sometimes they get up, ultimately they flame out,” he warned.
Senator Payman has also faced calls to resign from Parliament altogether, with critics highlighting she ran for office as a Labor member and not an independent.
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has gone after Fatima Payman, reminding her “people vote for parties” after the rebel Senator ditched Labor. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman
While Mr Shorten declined to completely back those calls, he suggested “most” members of the party would have chosen to quit Parliament if they were placed in the same position.
“If I say she should then I’m standing over her, if I say she shouldn’t then we’re rewarding her,” he argued.
“All I can do is say that’s up to her. I know for me and most of my colleagues we understand we’re elected under the Labor flag.
“As charming and as charismatic as individual candidates are, people vote for parties quite often and if I decided I was going to leave the Labor Party, which I never will, I would resign my seat.”
Senator Fatima Payman has quit the Labor Party but will remain in the Upper House, representing Western Australia on the crossbench.
The defection follows her crossing the floor on a motion on Palestinian statehood.
The Senator says she faced death threats and intimidation while weighing up her political future.
Speculation has also grown that Senator Payman may face a High Court challenge over her eligibility to sit in Parliament, given she held Afghani citizenship, but the Government Services Minister would not be drawn to comment on the rumours.
However, Mr Shorten did defend the Prime Minister’s handling of the saga, arguing Mr Albanese had attempted to give the rebel Senator “a bit of time and space” to think before re-joining Labor’s caucus.
“I think the Prime Minister’s tried to handle this in the very best way possible, he didn’t over react, he hasn’t underreacted,” Mr Shorten said.
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“I thought the suspension was the right way to go, it was saying ‘you are welcome Fatima and let’s give you a bit of time and space to work it through.’
“Clearly that’s not where her head was at, she’s walked, so really I don’t think there’s anything else that the Prime Minister could have done frankly.”
Mr Shorten added he was “not going to give Fatima Payman advice,” but suggested the rebel Senator should carefully consider her next steps if she wanted to remain in Parliament.