Opinion
ALP should be flexible like UK Labour and ditch the three-line whip
Fatima Payman crossing the Senate floor is a chance to fundamentally revisit Labor’s approach to caucusing.
Michael EassonCommentatorWest Australian Labor senator Fatima Payman crossing the Senate floor to vote for a Greens motion on immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and against the government is highly unusual in the ALP.
Rigid caucusing in the ALP is a feature of the Australian political system. If a Labor MP votes on an issue in parliament without permission of the ALP caucus or the party whip, this action leads to automatic suspension or expulsion.
Subscribe to gift this article
Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.
Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?
Introducing your Newsfeed
Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.
Find out moreRead More
Latest In Federal
Fetching latest articles