Mid-East threat to Labor is bigger than just Payman

The slow-burn resignation of Western Australian senator Fatima Payman from the ALP to sit on the Senate crossbench has put the spotlight on the grave threat posed to the Albanese government by unfolding events in the Middle East. Rising sentiments over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza have split the community. Senator Payman has made herself a symbol of taking “damn the consequences” action on an issue of principle. Her example can only add fuel to the Greens and an unfolding political movement that threatens Labor’s hold on vital seats across several states.

The Muslim Vote organisation is taking root and, if left unchecked, could do to Labor what the teals did to Liberal heartland seats at the last election. The Albanese government has left itself exposed by its prevarication and failure to clamp down hard on acts of anti-Semitic disobedience.

The way in which Senator Payman’s departure was handled has weakened Anthony Albanese’s authority further. The Prime Minister is damned first for not acting quickly or hard enough to discipline Senator Payman for breaking with party unity and voting with the Greens on a motion to recognise a Palestinian state. He is simultaneously criticised for allowing his party to be rough and disrespectful to its youngest parliamentary member on a deeply felt issue of conscience. Mr Albanese suggested on Wednesday that Senator Payman’s resignation from the party had been planned for months. This was rejected by Senator Payman on Thursday as “not true”. She said she had not made up her mind what she would do as the crisis unfolded.

Senator Payman said Mr Albanese had given her an ultimatum to toe the party line or resign and return her Senate spot to the ALP. In the end, Senator Payman said she felt obligated to stand on the “right side of humanity” in what she said was Israel’s “genocide” of “unimaginable proportions”.

In the hours before she quit, a small group of protesters climbed Parliament House and draped pro-Palestinian banners bearing offensive slogans. The action raised serious questions about security and underscored the extent to which the government had let the anti-Israeli protest movement run out of control. Whether or not the actions of Senator Payman represent part of a bigger new front remain to be seen. Senator Payman said she would not join the Greens and had no plans to form a political party, but added “stay tuned”. She admitted to having had discussions with “community members” in Sydney, which she said were focused on “political education”.

The prospect of a religious-based party taking root in support of the Palestinian cause is deeply troubling for Labor, and the nation. At the very least it will likely shape the policies of Labor, already under pressure from the Greens and unable to speak clearly on the issue of Israel. The new group, Muslim Vote, has drawn up a hit list of Labor MPs it will target. Top of the list are Workplace Minister Tony Burke, Education Minister Jason Clare and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. The group’s website says Muslim Vote “helps ensure that Muslim interests are well represented in Australian politics” and “Muslim Vote alone is capable of forcing the current government into minority government”.

Its focus is on federal seats where Muslim Vote can influence the outcome. Federal MPs are rated on their stance on solidarity with Israel and support for Palestine, and views on the South African case of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice. The hit list includes MPs in NSW, ACT, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.

Muslim Vote says it is not a political party but wants to “create viable grassroots political infrastructure in our communities”. There is sufficient political sophistication to indicate a much bigger plan is afoot.

The Albanese government must double down on the message that overseas conflicts must not be allowed to take root in Australia. It took a welcome stand on Thursday when it supported a Coalition move for a judicial inquiry to scrutinise anti-Semitism on university campuses across the country. A Senate committee will be able to hold hearings and call witnesses, raising the possibility that universities’ management could be called to answer questions about their handling of the recent wave of pro-Palestine protests on campus. The Greens voted against the motion.

Senator Payman’s emotional intervention may be appealing for some people but it is naive to the power politics at play internationally. Threats of interference from religious-based political groups can only lead to further community division.