The first-term Labor senator who sensationally crossed the floor on Palestine choked up with emotion as she revealed the consequences of her decision.
Fatima Payman, 29, risked expulsion from the Labor party when she ‘voted with her conscience’ in support of a Greens motion on Palestine in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon.
In doing so, she went against her own party, just weeks after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rebuked her for using the phrase ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’.
Speaking to 16-year-old journalist Leo Puglisi for 6News, Ms Payman admitted there had been ‘a mixed response’ within Labor off the back of her decision – with Mr Albanese benching her from Caucus meetings through this session of Parliament.
She said: ‘I’ve had many welfare checks from colleagues both in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
‘Many have shown support to my mental health, making sure I don’t feel alone’ – before looking visibly emotional.
Fatima Payman, 29, ‘voted with her conscience’ in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon on a Greens motion to recognise the state of Palestine
The first-term Labor senator who sided with the Greens to sensationally vote against her own party fought back tears as she revealed the consequences of that decision
Ms Payman revealed she could still face further consequences within the party.
‘I heard there may be extra penalties… that’s yet to be determined because there’s a letter going to the national secretariat,’ she said.
On whether she has received any indication about what her future holds, Ms Payman said ‘I wait to read newspaper articles in the morning’.
The response to Ms Payman’s actions has been mixed within Labor.
While some members are upset that she breached protocol and trust by crossing the floor, others are more concerned that her decision will upset their own constituents.
Ms Payman said she’s been hearing from Labor voters around Australia who were disappointed that their own local member has not spoken up for Gaza.
Likewise, MPs representing high Jewish populations are questioning whether Ms Payman’s strong advocacy for Palestine will result in them being punished by voters.
Labor’s Leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, was critical of Ms Payman’s vote, saying it is ‘very rare for a Labor person not to respect’ caucus solidarity’.
‘I can understand why colleagues are upset. I can understand how they feel, because there is trust between colleagues as well. What I would say is our expectation is that the senator abide by decisions of the caucus.
‘On this occasion, the Prime Minister has shown restraint.’
Fatima Payman said she knew she faced expulsion from Labor for choosing to cross the floor
When push came to shove and the final vote on the motion moved by Greens senator Nick McKim for ‘the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine’, Fatima Payman (right) was approached by crossbencher David Pocock (left). After a brief discussion, the pair walked toward the Greens together
Ms Wong pointed out that she ‘had to’ vote against a Greens motion supporting same sex marriage in 2008 and 2010 because at the time Labor’s position was formally opposed.
In March this year, Ms Wong married her wife, Sophie Allouache.
In the interview, Ms Payman claimed she had suffered some ‘unfair judgment’ from colleagues.
Ms Payman described her vote as an ‘incremental move toward recognising Palestine’.
She said she hoped to ‘reinstate hope within our communities, showing them that we do listen’.
‘We were elected to be standing up for our values… This is about justice, about doing the right thing and about being on the right side of history.’
Mr Albanese revealed later in the week that Ms Payman would miss the next caucus meeting on the back of her actions, but the party has dismissed calls for her to be suspended or permanently expelled
The moment that sparked political firestorm
Ms Payman chose to abstain from a series of initial votes on the Greens motion on Tuesday afternoon, defiantly sitting in the back – behind the action but in full sight of journalists – while the debate raged on.
But when the final vote on the motion moved by Greens senator Nick McKim for ‘the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine’ went ahead, Ms Payman was approached by crossbencher David Pocock.
After a short discussion, the pair walked toward the Greens together.
There was a brief moment where it was unclear whether Ms Payman was leaving the chamber entirely or had decided to vote, but then she took a seat beside Mr Pocock and directly in front of Senator Lidia Thorpe and cast her vote.
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