The Labor caucus has backed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s move to indefinitely suspend Fatima Payman from the party after the Western Australian Senator crossed the floor last week over a vote on Palestinian statehood.
Sky News Australia Political Editor Andrew Clennell revealed the development on Tuesday, after the Labor caucus convened for a meeting in the morning.
Clennell said the Prime Minister received unanimous endorsement from MPs for his action to indefinitely suspend Ms Payman from caucus, following her decision to support a Greens motion to recognise the state of Palestine.
“He used words to the effect of we are team players here and its up to her, he said, as to whether she wants to return to the fold – those were the words of the Prime Minister to caucus,” Clennell said.
“He spoke for about two minutes on the subject I’m told, there were no questions in relation to the matter, no comments from any other MPs.
“The Prime Minister seeking and receiving endorsement from the caucus this morning in terms of the indefinite suspension from caucus of Fatima Payman until she gives guarantees, I guess, that she’s not going to cross the floor of the Senate again, which she’s indicated she may do again on the Palestine issue.”
Ms Payman was indefinitely suspended from caucus after she indicated she would be willing to defy her party’s position again should another motion be put forward to recognise the state of Palestine.
“It depends on what is brought forward in the Senate, you and I both don’t have a crystal ball, so it’s really difficult to say,” Ms Payman told ABC’s Insiders host David Speers last week.
“But if the same motion on recognising the state of Palestine was to be brought forward tomorrow, I would cross the floor.”
Mr Albanese has been heavily criticised by the opposition for his handling of the issue and not handing Ms Payman a stricter punishment for her defiance, like expulsion from the party.
A government spokesperson said the suspension would in place until the Senator “decides she will respect the caucus and her Labor colleagues”.
“By her own actions and statements, Senator Payman has placed herself outside the privilege that comes with participating in the federal parliamentary Labor Party caucus,” a statement read.
“If Senator Payman decides she will respect the caucus and her Labor colleagues she can return, but until then Senator Payman is suspended from the right to participate in federal parliamentary Labor Party caucus meetings and processes.”
Ms Payman is the first Labor politician to cross the floor in almost two decades, with the last MP of the caucus to make the bold move recorded back in 2005.