Senator Fatima Payman crosses floor over Palestinian statehood
First-term senator Fatima Payman faces expulsion from Labor after becoming the first caucus member to cross the floor in 18 years.
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First term senator Fatima Payman has risked expulsion from the ALP after becoming the first Labor politician to cross the floor in more than 18 years when she voted in support of a parliamentary push by the Greens to recognise Palestinian statehood.
Defying her party’s official position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Senator Payman’s intervention comes amid reports she has stopped talking to senior colleagues over her strong pro-Palestinian stance.
The decision poses a fresh headache for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who has kept his party largely united over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Strict rules governing how members of the Labor caucus vote prevent MPs and senators from crossing the floor except under exceptional circumstances on matters of conscience.
Should a Labor politician defy their colleagues, it is up to the caucus to determine the penalty imposed, which could including booting Senator Payman from caucus.
Expulsion, or suspension, from the Labor Party is ultimately a decision for the party’s national executive.
In the vote on Tuesday afternoon, Labor attempted to negotiate a compromise position and keep Senator Payman, with government senators attempting to amend the Greens’ motion by adding that Palestinian statehood would form “part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace”.
This position was not supported by the Greens.
A separate motion, moved by the Coalition, which added further preconditions to the proposed two-state solution by placing additional demands on Palestinian Authority, was then rejected by Labor and the Greens.
Following votes on the amendments, from which Senator Payman, a Muslim, had abstained, the original motion to recognise Palestinian statehood was again put to the Senate.
During that vote Senator Payman joined the Greens, alongside crossbench senators Lidia Thorpe and David Pocock, to vote in support.
In recent weeks, Senator Payman has indicated a growing inclination to defy her party’s stance on the issue of Palestinian recognition, and penned an opinion piece published in Al Jazeera last week which was critical of Labor’s position.
Speaking immediately after the vote, Senator Payman revealed she had not determined how she would vote until she was in the chamber.
“It was the most difficult decision I have had to make, and although each step I took across the Senate floor felt like a mile, I know I did not walk alone,” she told reporters in Canberra.
Senator Payman would not be drawn on whether she expected to be expelled but said she hoped she could remain a Labor politician.
“I still have the core values of the Labor Party and I hope to continue serving in the Labor Party,” she said.
The Prime Minister’s office hosed down speculation Senator Payman would be expelled from the party, citing party rules which did not necessitate that outcome.
“There is no mandated sanction in these circumstances and previous caucus members have crossed the floor without facing expulsion,” a government spokesperson said.
“As reflected in our amendment, the Government supports the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of a peace process towards a two-state solution.”
Greens leader Adam Bandt paid tribute to Senator Payman’s act of defiance.
“What Senator Payman’s action shows is that every Labor MP who said they care about the plight of Palestinians are utterly cowardly and full of nothing but hollow words,” he said.
“Senator Payman’s courageous actions now show up every Labor MP who has refused to cross the floor and to vote to do the right thing.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin demanded senator Payman be held accountable for her support of the Greens motion.
“The fact that Senator Payman could no longer accept the Government’s position of supporting a Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution is astonishing,” he said.
The last Labor politician to cross the floor was Tasmanian MP Harry Quick in November 2005 who defied his party in voting against anti-terrorism legislation.
Mr Quick was ultimately expelled from the party for failing to pay his membership dues having already announced his retirement from federal politics.
He later sought to resurrect his political career by running for Greens preselection.
Originally published as Senator Fatima Payman crosses floor over Palestinian statehood
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