Senator Fatima Payman struggles to answer question about October 7 attack on Israel on ABC

Senator Fatima Payman was left stumped when asked directly if she thought the October 7 attack on Israel was an act of ‘terrorism or resistance’.

Ms Payman appeared on the ABC’s 7.30 program on Wednesday night, hours after announcing her new political party – ‘Australia’s Voice’.

The senator, who represents Western Australia, resigned from Labor and joined the crossbench in July due to irreconcilable differences with the party over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

She was asked by 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson how she’d describe the actions of Hamas on October 7 last year, following the first anniversary of the attack.

‘In your view, were the actions of Hamas on that day an act of terrorism or an act of resistance?’ Ferguson asked.

After initially pausing, Ms Payman said the question ‘reduces the Palestinian plight’.

‘What happened on the 7th of October, I’ve condemned and the atrocities… the loss of any human life is to be condemned,’ Ms Payman, wearing a badge with both the Aboriginal and Palestine flag combined, said.

‘Any form of violence against civilians must be condemned, and we need to acknowledge that Palestinians and now the Lebanese community are hurting, but so are the Israeli communities. 

‘And this is about how do we make sure that we are raising awareness, but at the same time not isolating one group and pitting one group against another.’

Ferguson asked if Israel had a ‘right to self-defense’ following the October 7 attack by Hamas. 

‘We’ve heard from the ICJ [International Court of Justice] and the ICC [International Criminal Court] that as an occupying power, occupying a people, Israel does not have the right to claim self-defense,’ Ms Payman responded.

‘Again, I’m not a humanitarian lawyer or expert, but from what I have seen and understood Israel’s atrocities and the genocide it continues to impose on the people of Palestine and now crossing the borders needs to be called out and Australia, as a friend of Israel, should play a stronger and bolder role.’

Earlier in the interview Ms Payman was repeatedly pressed on what her policies would be in her new political party.

She dodged the question several times and gave vague answers, while Ferguson continuously asked her to be ‘specific’ about what she wanted to achieve.

‘Australia’s Voice is going to be a party about inclusivity, about being brave and bold, about being pragmatic, about listening to Australians out there and finding local solutions for those local problems,’ Ms Payman said.

Ms Payman (pictured with Anthony Albanese) took a dig at the Labor party while speaking to Sarah Ferguson on Wednesday night

‘In the days to come we will be formalising our party platform and Australia’s Voice will be talking to people on the ground and formulating a very well thought policy platform.’

Ms Payman added she would love to appear on 7.30 again once she finalised her policies.

Ferguson also grilled the senator on why she chose the name Australia’s Voice, given it was just days ahead of the first anniversary of the failed Voice to Parliament referendum.

Ms Payman said she came up with the name of the party herself following a conversation with her husband.

She was then asked if the timing of her announcement was appropriate given its closeness to the anniversary of the referendum.

‘Yes, it is very unfortunate that the Voice Referendum failed and elders that I have been speaking with have told me that they are shocked that their situation and the Indigenous affairs at the moment are far worse than they were before the referendum,’ she responded.

Ferguson interrupted to say the question was surrounding the word ‘Voice’ and asked who she consulted with before choosing the title.

Ms Payman refused to name any specific Indigenous elders she had consulted with, but said she had spoken to ‘community elders, community groups and so many people on the ground’.

The senator, who represents Western Australia, resigned from Labor and joined the crossbench in July due to irreconcilable differences with the party over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas 

‘Nobody owns the word ‘Voice’. There’s a program on TV called The Voice,’ she said, referencing the Channel Seven program.

‘So for me it was about encompassing something that is inclusive and involves all Australians’ voices to be heard.

‘Unlike the Labor Government, we will not be putting Indigenous issues and Indigenous affairs in the too-hard basket. 

‘We will be consulting, talking and raising awareness.’

It comes after Ms Payman was called out by Indigenous Australians, including gold medallist and ex-Labor senator Nova Peris, for using the term ‘Voice’.

‘So many of our mob are grieving, so many Jewish Australians are mourning, and she chooses today to launch this totally insensitive party name,’ Ms Peris told The Australian.

‘It is breathtakingly disrespectful, and a complete misappropriation of yet another aspect of my people’s story and emblems. The Australian Labor Party gave Ms Payman a voice. This rogue senator has misappropriated that privilege in a self-entitled manner.

‘It is not a voice of, or for, Australians. Certainly not Indigenous Australians, Jewish Australians, or any Australians with moral clarity.’