Why rogue senator Fatima Payman has $450,000 reasons not to quit Parliament

Rebel Senator Fatima Payman can charge taxpayers an eyewatering amount of money each night to sleep in her own investment property.

EXCLUSIVE

Rebel Labor MP Fatima Payman has a $450,000 reason why she won’t be quitting politics when she quits the ALP today - she’s just bought a new investment property in Canberra.

Taking a leaf from the practice of dozens of MPs, including the Prime Minister when he was a Labor frontbencher, she’s also charging taxpayers $310 a night to sleep in her own investment property in Canberra in a bid to help pay off the mortgage.

Rebel Labor MP Fatima Payman has bought a new investment property in Canberra and is charging taxpayers $310 a night to sleep in her own property to help pay off the mortgage. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The WA Senator and newlywed is expected to quit the ALP today over her fight for Palestine, creating a major headache for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

But the biggest clue that she will remain on the crossbench as an independent MP comes in the form of her newly acquired investment property with a mortgage with Macquarie Bank.

Like many MPs, she’s offsetting the cost of a Canberra investment property by claiming $310 in nightly travel allowance to sleep in her own investment properties.

New apartment provides clue to Senator Payman’s future

Despite the Prime Minister privately telling the rogue ALP recruit that she should hand back her seat to the Labor Party if she plans to quit, the 29-year old Senator’s new apartment suggests there’s no chance of that happening.

News.com.au has confirmed that Senator Payman paid $450,000 on June 20, 2023 to purchase a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Canberra’s northern suburbs.

The Senator’s register of financial interests confirms she has a mortgage with Macquarie Bank.

Based on a mortgage of between $400,000 and $450,000 she is likely paying around $2,800 a month on the new apartment.

But in keeping with the tradition that has seen scores of Labor and Liberal MPs pay off an investment property using travel allowance, Senator Payman can claim $310 a night to sleep in the investment property.

Senator Payman is expected to quit the ALP over her fight for Palestine, which could create a headache for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

According to the latest Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority figures, Senator Payman claimed $4,650 in travel allowance for nights in Canberra in October.

She then claimed $2,790 in travel allowance for nights in Canberra in November 2023 and $1240 in December.

The longstanding tradition of MPs purchasing an investment property in Canberra and then using their travel allowance to pay off the mortgage has been embraced over the years by everyone from Anthony Albanese to former Treasurer

Senator Payman also spent time in Malaysia in November after she was invited on a parliamentary delegation at a cost to taxpayers of $7,826.

She also spent $35,000 in printing costs over the October-December 2023 three month reporting period.

Prime Minister says he expects her to quit on Thursday

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister confirmed just after 2.30pm that he expected Senator Payman would make a statement soon, hinting she may quit the ALP.

“Senator Payman, of course, has made a decision to place herself outside the Labor Party, that is a decision that she made. I expect further announcements in the coming days,” he said.

Despite pressure to return her seat to the Labor Party, Senator Payman’s recent purchase of a $450,000 apartment suggests she may remain on the crossbench as an independent MP. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Which will explain exactly what the strategy has been over for more than a month.”

She now says she’s been “exiled” and excluded by her Labor colleagues.

“I have been removed from caucus meetings, committees, internal group chats and whip’s bulletins,” she said.

“These actions led me to believe that some members are attempting to intimidate me into resigning from the Senate.”

She was elected for a six-year term in 2022 after riding the wave of ex-premier Mark McGowan’s popularity to secure a usually unwinnable third Senate spot on the ALP ticket.