Payman remained defiant the day after a bombshell interview on the ABC’s Insiders program in which she vowed to cross the floor again and vote in support of recognising a Palestinian state.
Labor rules bind caucus members to the party’s collective decisions, and MPs who vote against those risk being thrown out.
Payman can serve out the remaining four years of her term whether she is representing Labor or joins the crossbench, just as Lidia Thorpe and David Van remain in parliament after quitting their parties.
Fatima Payman and Tanya Plibersek after the swearing-in of Governor-General Sam Mostyn.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
If Payman were to quit the Senate, the WA Labor Party would be able to parachute in a new senator to replace the first-term backbencher, whose refusal to vote with the party forces the government to seek an extra crossbench vote to pass bills opposed by the Coalition.
The Payman controversy will have knock-on consequences at the next election.
A collective of Muslim activists is planning to unseat Labor MPs in metropolitan seats with large Muslim populations, using “teal-style” tactics to find independent candidates.
There is speculation in Labor circles that Payman would work with the new grouping. Payman has not responded to requests for comment.
Several Labor MPs, including Tony Burke, Jim Chalmers and Peter Khalil, have encountered growing anger among Muslim voters in their seats – sentiment that is fuelling a new political movement created by three groups that formed after October 7: Sydney group the Muslim Vote, Melbourne alliance Vote for Palestine and Australia-wide organisation Muslim Votes Matter.
Mahmud Hawila, a barrister and adviser to the collective, said former Labor and Liberal operatives had already been recruited for strategy and polling. Door-knocking had begun, and the groups planned to run candidates in seats such as Wills in Melbourne, NSW’s Blaxland, Watson and Werriwa, and possibly others.
Hawila said: “The groups have all promised Senator Payman their unconditional support. The way the prime minister has treated her is disgusting.
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“What he’s done, unbeknown to him is firmed up and consolidated support not just for Payman but the resolute conviction to get rid of Labor in these seats. People from Labor have defected and joined the movement, it’s become this massive machine that’s in full motion.”
Earlier on Monday, Albanese expressed frustration with the media’s focus on his decision to suspend Payman.
Albanese told ABC News Radio that on the first day of a new financial year, “we want to talk about tax cuts”.
He criticised Payman’s interview on ABC’s Insiders, in which she said she would cross the floor again if the Greens put forward another motion on Palestine.
The prime minister said Payman had disrupted the government’s message “the day before the most significant assistance that has been given to working people in a very long period of time”.
Albanese said the suspension decision was “not because of her support for a policy position that she’s advocated”.
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