The first-term Labour senator who sensationally made a speech on the Palestine issue became emotional as she revealed the consequences of her decision.
Fatima Payman, 29, risked being expelled 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.”
Talking to a 16-year-old journalist Leo Puglisi for 6NewsMs Payman admitted there was “a mixed response” within the Labor Party following her decision, with Albanese expelling her from Caucus meetings during this session of Parliament.
She said: ‘I have received many wellness checks from colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“Many have shown support for my mental health, making sure I don’t feel alone,” before becoming visibly emotional.
Fatima Payman, 29, “voted with her conscience” in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon on a Greens motion to recognize the State of Palestine.
The first-term Labor senator who sided with the Greens to sensationally vote against her own party held back tears as she revealed the consequences of that decision.
Payman revealed that he could still face further consequences within the party.
“I heard there could be additional sanctions… that is yet to be determined because there is a letter that goes to the national secretariat,” he said.
Asked whether she had received any indication of what the future held, Ms Payman said: “I look forward to reading the articles in the paper in the morning.”
The response to Ms Payman’s actions has been mixed within the Labor Party.
While some members are upset that she violated protocol and trust by crossing the floor, others are more concerned that her decision will upset her own constituents.
Ms Payman said she had heard from Labor voters across Australia who were disappointed that their own local member had not spoken out in favour of Gaza.
Likewise, MPs representing high Jewish populations wonder whether Payman’s strong defense of Palestine will result in them being punished by voters.
Senate Labor leader Penny Wong criticized Payman’s vote, saying it is “very rare for a Labor person not to respect the solidarity of the caucus”.
‘I can understand why colleagues are upset. I can understand how they feel, because there is also trust between colleagues. What I would say is that our expectation is that the senator respects the decisions of the group.
“On this occasion, the Prime Minister has shown restraint.”
Fatima Payman said she knew she faced expulsion from the Labour Party for choosing to cross the floor.
As things came to a close and the final vote on Greens Senator Nick McKim’s motion for “the Senate to recognize the State of Palestine”, Fatima Payman (right) was approached by MP David Pocock ( left). After a brief discussion, the couple walked together towards the Greens.
Ms Wong noted that she “had to” vote against a Greens motion supporting same-sex marriage in 2008 and 2010 because at the time the Labor Party’s position was formally opposed.
In March this year, Ms Wong married her wife, Sophie Allouache.
In the interview, Ms Payman said she had suffered “unfair judgment” from her colleagues.
Payman described his vote as a “gradual step towards recognition of Palestine.”
He said he hoped to “restore hope within our communities by showing them that we listen.”
“We were elected to stand up for our values… This is about justice, doing the right thing and being on the right side of history.”
Albanese revealed late this week that Payman would miss the next caucus meeting due to her actions, but the party has rejected calls for her to be suspended or permanently expelled.
The moment that unleashed the political storm
Ms Payman chose to abstain in a series of initial votes on the Greens’ motion on Tuesday afternoon, sitting defiantly at the back – behind the action but in full view of journalists – as the debate continued.
But when the final vote took place on Green Senator Nick McKim’s motion for “the Senate to recognize the State of Palestine”, independent David Pocock approached Payman.
After a brief discussion, the two walked towards the Greens together.
There was a brief moment when it was unclear whether Payman was leaving the chamber entirely or had decided to vote, but then he took a seat next to Pocock and directly across from Senator Lidia Thorpe and cast his vote.
