The Prime Minister has faced ABC presenter Sarah Ferguson in a tense one-on-one television interview over the Labor senator who voted against the party and defied caucus rules.
Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman crossed the floor of parliament and voted against Labor last week on a Greens motion to recognise Palestine.
The exchange of blows has been deafening in political circles. The Prime Minister banned Payman from attending parliamentary group meetings, while she herself has said that her colleagues were trying to “intimidate” her into leaving the Senate.
On Tuesday, media reported that Payman had met with a political pundit from a minor party, leading some to conclude that she might leave the Labour Party.
Premier Anthony Albanese sat down with ABC 7.30 presenter Sarah Ferguson on Tuesday where the pair engaged in a tense exchange over the senator.
“That’s a decision for her to make,” Albanese said when asked if the senator would be in the party at the end of the week.
There are also murky links between the political pundit and a grassroots movement called Muslim Vote, which is reportedly eyeing federal Labor seats, fuelled by a wave of discontent over the government’s stance on Gaza and the question of Palestinian recognition.
The Prime Minister said Payman’s working with such a group was not treasonous.
“She’s made the decision that she can’t limit herself to what brings our team together,” Albanese said.
‘I would like to see her return to the team and that option is certainly available to her.
“I don’t take these issues personally… I’ve seen people on different occasions make decisions that changed the direction in which they were elected. Fatima, of course, was elected as a Labour senator.”
Ms Ferguson asked: “But as we sit here, is it acceptable to you for someone to talk to their opponents?”
“Well, clearly, that’s not acceptable, and that’s why Senator Payman has been suspended from caucus,” Albanese said.
ABC reporter Sarah Ferguson (pictured) interrupted the Prime Minister and asked if it was acceptable for someone to speak to their opponents.
For her part, Ms. Payman has revealed that she will continue to vote to recognize the Palestinian state.
The position of the Labor Party in the federal parliament on the offending motion was that it did not recognise Israel and therefore did not have the support of the Labor Party.