Labor Senator Fatima Payman claims she has been isolated and pressured to resign after crossing party lines to support Palestinian statehood. Her indefinite suspension has sparked discussions about party unity and the effectiveness of diversity within the Labor Party.

Canberra

Labor Senator Fatima Payman has raised concerns about her treatment within the Labor Party after crossing party lines to support a motion on Palestinian statehood. Following her indefinite suspension, Payman claims she has been isolated and pressured to resign, prompting discussions on party unity and diversity.

Payman released a statement asserting that she had been exiled and had lost contact with her caucus colleagues. She believes that certain members of the party are attempting to intimidate her into resigning from the Senate. Payman initially received a one-week suspension for breaking party rules but later faced indefinite suspension after stating in a television interview that she would cross the floor again.

Her comments have sparked internal party tensions, with some colleagues accusing her of not being a team player and undermining the collective nature of major party membership. Despite this, Payman maintains that she has been largely isolated by the party. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed frustration, stating that Payman’s actions are causing distractions from the government’s cost of living relief efforts.

The situation has prompted discussions on whether Labor's binding party rules are outdated and if the party's commitment to diversity is being effectively implemented. Payman has indicated that she is considering resigning from the party and will not be voting in the Senate this week.



Labor Senator slams party treatment

Well back home now and the Albanese government is being accused of isolating and intimidating one of their own after she crossed the floor and voted for a Palestinian state. Network political editor Ashley Raper joins us now and Ash, what has Fatima Payman had to say? It's strong language Ursula in the statement released by Fatima Payman this afternoon. She says I have been exiled, I have lost all contact with my caucus colleagues and that these actions lead me to believe that some members are attempting to intimidate me into resigning from the Senate. Now this all started last week when the Labor senator who was a Muslim Australian broke party rules and crossed the floor to vote in support of a Greens motion to recognize Palestinian statehood and after that she was suspended from sitting in Labor caucus the party meetings for a week but in what was really an act of defiance she then did a TV interview and said she'd crossed the floor again. So that resulted in Fatima Payman being suspended from the Labor caucus indefinitely yesterday and she could only return if she toes the party line and follows the rules. This statement this afternoon suggests she possibly won't. She's now considering whether she quits the party and says she won't be voting in the Senate this week. Her Labor colleagues have been angry with her claiming she hasn't been a team player and Labor has to act collectively. That's the point of joining a major party but some insist they have tried to contact her. Earlier today the Prime Minister expressed his frustration that Senator Payman's actions were creating a distraction from the government's cost of living relief that's rolling out today for July the 1st but if he had hoped to draw a line under this situation by suspending her that clearly hasn't happened and it's raised two issues. The first there's been talk whether the binding party rules are old-fashioned and still necessary and second while Labor champions diversity within its ranks whether it's working effectively in practice Ursula

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