‘No-strings attached’ Senator Fatima Payman won’t commit to Greens Israel sanction bid
Newly independent ‘no-strings attached’ senator says – Palestine-related or not – she wants to scrutinise the motion first, amid the news that ‘preference whisperer’ Glenn Druery will be her CoS.
Newly independent, “no-strings attached” WA senator Fatima Payman won’t commit to supporting a looming Greens Israel sanctions motion saying – Palestine-related or not – she’d support it once she’d scrutinised its wording on the senate floor.
It comes amid confirmation that “preference whisperer” Glenn Druery is now the senator’s new chief of staff, after providing her with informal counsel during the week she left the Labor caucus.
Mr Druery boasts a track record of securing seats for upper house independents and minor party candidates, and his involvement provides Senator Payman with immediate operational nous but also bolsters her re-election prospects, whatever form that takes.
Senator Payman returns to federal parliament on Monday after a five-week winter recess and her high-profile exit from the ALP in July, and on the back of a recent “12-day listening tour” of WA to better prepare herself to sit as an independent.
August’s sitting fortnight will be Senator Payman’s first outside of Anthony Albanese’s Labor camp after she crossed the floor to support a Greens Palestinian statehood motion in late June.
The senator – who Canberra insiders said “out-danced” the Prime Minister in the pair’s “political tango” – told The Australian that attempts to box her as a single-issue senator after her Palestine stance led to her ALP exit would be futile: she would first and foremost be a “strong voice” for WA.
“I’m there to represent WA and WA voices … and without any strings attached and (away from) the politicking of different political parties,” Senator Payman said.
The Australian revealed on Wednesday that Greens federal leader Adam Bandt said the party would move a motion during parliament’s return – as early as Monday or at the time with the “greatest effect” – that would call on the Mr Albanese to sanction Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.
It would call for sanctions on “extremist” Mr Netanyahu and his defence minister Yoav Gallant, noting similar action had been taken against people connected to North Korea, Iran and Russia.
In response, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and former Liberal prime minister John Howard labelled the Greens “the real extremists in politics”, while Senator Payman’s former Labor colleagues called the move a “stunt”.
The senator – who previously threatened to cross the floor again as a Labor senator to back similar motions – refused to commit to supporting the Greens’ move, saying that a blanket approach would be contradictory to the independently minded representative she would become.
“I haven’t seen the motion … I’m keen to see what it’s about and what the exact wording looks like before I make any decision,” Senator Payman said, adding that her knowledge of the Greens’ motion was contained to The Australian’s reports.
She said she’d been clear that any motions anticipated to come to the Senate floor, on any issue, would not receive her blind support until she’d scrutinised the details.
“It’s really hard for me to give or formulate an opinion or a decision (on how I’ll) vote before then,” Senator Payman said.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what it (the Greens’ motion) is and its wording before making any decision.
“And that applies to whether it’s a motion on Palestine or anything else. I’ll maintain that consistency and hope to stay true as an independent senator.”
Although her resignation coincided with the formal emergence of Muslim political campaigns, Senator Payman is not in any capacity attached to any alliance, nor was that on the cards.
The involvement of Mr Druery, who masterminded the Senate campaign for the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party’s little-known Ricky Muir in 2013, provides experience in the immediate term and will put the major parties on notice on how he and the senator think best to approach the next election.
Mr Druery said he had not met another politician with Senator Payman’s “strength of conviction”, calling it a “rare commodity”, adding that she could become the next Senate powerbroker.
“I’m excited to work alongside a senator motivated by conviction, but also the issues important to her state,” he said.
“Too many in politics are cellophane... or motivated by power and achievement. We need more politicians like Senator Payman.”
In July, Senator Payman refused to rule out forming her own political party, telling Canberra’s press gallery to “stay tuned”, but added that her only immediate plans would be to sit as an independent. Mr Druery said what form any re-election campaign took would be an important thing to discuss among many across the coming months.
“I’m in Canberra to represent the voices of WA,” Senator Payman said.
“I see myself as being a pragmatic voice of reason … (representing) the best interests of WA.”
Senator Payment has finished a whistlestop “12-day listening tour” across WA, designed for her and her team to reintroduce herself, connect with rural communities and better understand the issues facing them.
On Friday, Mr Albanese travelled to Perth, standing up with Early Childhood Education minister Anne Aly in Tania Lawrence’s seat of Hasluck to spruik the government’s 15 per cent pay rise for early-years educators.
“I’m a regular visitor to WA and have been so for at least 20 years,” Mr Albanese said.
“You have to develop relationships here with business, with political leaders, with the community. It’s a great state.”
Of her own visits across WA, Senator Payman said the issues those communities grappled with were “unique to those regions” and it was about seeking solutions in Canberra, adding that people were enthused that the state had an independent voice.
“I’m going back to Canberra with (that) level of excitement and energy to represent WA,” she said.
“(People) now have an independent voice for WA and from WA … I’m excited but nervous, it’s a whole new chapter.”
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