Australian Senator Fatima Payman Suspended from Labor Party for Supporting Recognition of Palestine

Senator Fatima Payman, Australia's first hijab-wearing senator, has been indefinitely suspended from the Labor Party's caucus for her unwavering support of a Greens motion to recognize Palestine as an independent state. This bold move has sparked significant controversy within the party and highlighted the tension between individual conscience and party solidarity. 

On June 25th, Senator Payman crossed the floor to support the Greens’ proposal, a decision she described as the “most difficult” she has ever made. “Each step I took across the Senate floor felt like a mile,” Payman said. 

In parliamentary systems, "crossing the floor" refers to a member of parliament (MP) voting against their own political party's position on a particular issue or piece of legislation. It involves an MP siding with the opposition parties rather than supporting their own party's stance. 

“I know I did not walk these steps by myself, and I know I did not walk them alone. I’ve walked with the West Australians who have stopped me in the streets and told me not to give up. I’ve walked with the rank-and-file Labor Party members who told me we must do more. I’ve worked with the core values of the Labor Party – equality, justice, fairness, and advocacy for the voiceless and the oppressed.” 

Despite her actions, the Senate rejected the proposal for the second time. Payman’s defiance has led to her indefinite suspension from participating in Labor’s caucus meetings, a decision made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 

Albanese justified the suspension by emphasizing the importance of party unity. “No individual is bigger than the team. And Fatima Payman is welcome to return to participating in the team if she accepts [that] she’s a member of it,” Albanese stated. 

Payman’s decision to support the recognition of Palestine has not only challenged party norms but also highlighted her dedication to her principles and the community she represents. 

“I walked with my Muslim brothers and sisters who told me they have felt unheard for far too long. And I walked with the people of Palestine, for the 40,000 killed, for the hungry and scared boys and girls who now walk alone without their parents and for the brave men and women who have to walk alone without their children. I walked for humanity. I am proud of what I did today and am bitterly disappointed that my colleagues do not feel the same way.” 

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles argued that Senator Payman would not be in federal parliament "if not for the fact" that Labor was next to her name.

Patrick Gorman, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, echoed this sentiment, saying, "When we get elected to parliament there's a range of things that we commit to. If people can't keep those commitments then obviously things need to change. It's not the caucus that's changed, it's not the Labor Party that's changed, it is Senator Payman that has changed. And it's really a matter for her."

The suspension has received mixed reactions from within the Labor Party. Resources Minister Madeleine King stated, “It’s very clear to everyone, and has been for a long time, that to move together after discussion you have to band together and have solidarity with your colleagues. That is how we operate, and it's how we've always operated.” 

King also noted that if Payman decided to adhere to party rules, she would be welcomed back. “If she wants to respect the way we manage our caucus — which is about solidarity and working together to a mutual benefit of the Australian people — and she decides to change her mind and respect her caucus colleagues, I’m sure she’ll be welcomed back into the caucus.” 

Payman’s suspension has been defended by Labor Friends of Palestine, who pointed out that the ALP platform contains a “commitment to recognizing the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for self-determination within a sovereign state.” 

In a joint statement, Muslim groups including the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and the Australian National Imams Council praised Payman for her stance, describing it as a commitment to justice and the right thing to do.