Rebel Senator Fatima Payman has revealed she has been removed from all internal Labor caucus discussions as part of a wider “exile” from the party following her decision to vote with the Greens to recognise Palestinian statehood.
Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says Labor Senator Fatima Payman has been “exiled” and will be abstaining on everything amid controversy over crossing the floor in the Senate.
Ms Payman issued a statement saying she has lost contact with her caucus colleagues following her suspension and believes some members are “attempting to intimidate” her into resigning from the Senate.
“I said earlier in the program I reckon she’s leaving the Labor Party,” Ms Clennell said.
Ms Payman was indefinitely suspended from the Labor caucus following a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday afternoon.
Labor MPs are prohibited from voting against the Party’s position and breaches of rules have historically seen members receive much harsher punishments for crossing the floor, including expulsion.
Ms Payman described the repercussions of the suspension in a statement On Monday afternoon, saying she has been “exiled” from the party.
Fatima Payman has revealed she has been “exiled” from the party. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.
The indefinite suspension came after a meeting with Anthony Albanese following an Insiders interview. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
“Since (Sunday), I have lost all contact with my caucus colleagues, I have been removed from caucus meetings, committees, internal group chats, and whips bulletins,” she said.
“I have been told to avoid all chamber duties that require a vote including divisions, motions and matters of public interest.
“I have been exiled”.
Ms Payman went so far as to say her colleagues’ behaviour had led her to believe some Labor members were “attempting to intimidate” her into resigning from the Senate.
“As a result, I will abstain from voting on Senate matters for the remainder of the week, unless a matter of conscience arises where I’ll uphold the true values and principles of the Labor Party.”
She vowed to use this time to reflect on her future and how to best represent her constituents in Western Australia.
The Prime Minister’s decision to indefinitely suspend Ms Payman came after the rebel Senator signalled on the ABC’s Insiders program earlier on Sunday she would be willing to cross the floor again on the issue of Palestine.
Senator Fatima Payman released a statement on Monday.
When asked by Insiders host David Speers whether she would abide by the decisions of the caucus in the future, Ms Payman replied it depended on “what is brough forward in the Senate”.
“You and I both don’t have a crystal ball, so it’s really difficult to say,” she said.
“But if the same motion on recognising the state of Palestine was to be brought forward tomorrow, I would cross the floor.”
Ms Payman revealed she and the Prime Minister had a “stern” discussion over her decision to cross the floor last week, which resulted in a one-week suspension from the Labor caucus.
She signalled she did not intend to leave the party but revealed there had been a “mix of reactions” to her decision to cross the floor.
Senator Fatima Payman crossed the floor to support Senator Mehreen Faruqi’s motion to have the Senate recognise Palestine as a state. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.
“I understand there’s been various colleagues who have been upset with me and frustrated, I’ve received the cold shoulder,” she said.
“But there has been an overwhelming majority who have stood up in solidarity, doing their welfare checks.”
“I know there are caucus members who have advocated for this matter longer than I have been on this earth for.”
All eyes were on Ms Payman earlier on Monday as independent senator Jacqui Lambie moved a motion to condemn the actions of pro-Palestinian protesters who graffitied multiple memorials near the Australian War Memorial in Canberra over the weekend.
Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell said he was watching to see whether Ms Payman would abstain or cross the floor, but she was saved from embarrassment when the Greens did not speak and a division was not called despite the party flagging they would be opposing the motion.
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“And because of that, Fatima Payman didn’t have to decide whether or not to come into the chamber,” he said.
He revealed there are rumours the motion to recognise Palestinian statehood – which was the cause of Ms Payman being suspended from the caucus last week – will be repeated tomorrow in the Senate.
“I think this is something that we’ll be watching all week,” he said.