Anthony Albanese feels heat over ‘bullying of Fatima Payman’

The Coalition has attacked ­Anthony Albanese over his handling of rebel senator Fatima Payman, accusing him of encouraging “bullying and intimidation” and failing to support a young woman.

WA senator Fatima Payman. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Coalition has attacked ­Anthony Albanese over his handling of rebel senator Fatima Payman, accusing him of encouraging “bullying and intimidation” and failing to support a young woman.

The personal hit against the Prime Minister mimics Labor’s relentless pre-election attacks on the character of Scott Morrison, as part of a successful strategy that made the former prime minister a drag on the Coalition vote.

As senior Labor ministers rubbished Senator Payman’s claims that she was treated poorly by members of the government, deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley accused Mr Albanese of “dismissing concerns” of the 29-year-old.

The Greens vowed on Tuesday to launch a public and doorknocking campaign in key Labor seats with high Muslim populations, telling constituents to ask their local representative to cross the floor on Palestine as Senator Payman had.

Ms Ley, who is also the ­Coalition’s spokeswoman for women, said she was concerned that Mr Albanese had allowed a young woman in parliament to be put into a position “where she feels intimidated by her colleagues in her workplace”.

“It appears the Prime Minister was too weak to wear the consequences of expelling Senator Payman so is instead relying on bullying and intimidation from the Labor caucus to do the job ­instead,” she told The Australian

“Senator Payman is one of the youngest and newest members of the parliament and regardless of her views she deserves better treatment than she has received from Anthony Albanese, a man who said he would support young women.”

In opposition, Labor capitalised on claims Mr Morrison had bullied and intimidated female MPs who had crossed the floor, including former Chisholm MP Julia Banks.

Senator Payman declared on Monday night that she would ­abstain from voting for the rest of the week, except on matters of conscience such as Palestinian statehood, after being “exiled” from the party.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

The West Australian senator said she was made to believe some members were attempting to intimidate her into resigning.

However, several senior ministers including Amanda Rishworth, Bill Shorten, Katy Gallagher and Mark Butler, rebuffed the allegation she had been intimidated and said they were only aware of people reaching out in good faith to Senator Payman.

As Labor MPs questioned who Senator Payman was being ­advised by – such as influential union leaders in Western Australia or peak Muslim bodies – professional electoral and preference adviser Glenn Druery confirmed he was talking to the Afghanistan-born senator.

But Mr Druery, who specialises in giving minor parties and ­independents detailed guidance on how to farm votes, said he was “not in a formal arrangement with the senator, and no money has changed hands nor is likely to do so between us”.

Senator Payman said she would take the time to “reflect” on her future during her week of ­abstention.

Greens leader Adam Bandt continued to target Labor over Senator Payman’s decision to cross the floor, declaring on Tuesday that Mr Albanese had made clear “that you can now cross the floor” and not be kicked out of the party.

“So other Labor MPs who profess to hold dearly the values of peace now need to follow in the footsteps of the brave first-term senator Fatima Payman and show their willingness to put their votes on the line … to back a shift in government policy,” he said.

“Over the winter break the Greens will now be beginning a public and doorknocking campaign in a number of seats around the country to ask Labor MPs to now start speaking out and crossing the floor.”

The seats targeted by the Greens are the same as those highlighted by political organisations The Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter, including Victorian MP Peter Khalil’s seat of Wills and Ged Kearney’s seat of Cooper.

Ms Ley said she was “deeply disappointed” that Mr Albanese dismissed her concerns over Senator Payman’s allegations of intimidation from within Labor, which she raised in question time by asking “what steps have been taken to investigate” her claims.

Mr Albanese pointed out that the Coalition had only last week called on action to be taken on Senator Payman following her decision to cross the floor and vote with the Greens on a motion calling for Palestinian statehood.

“The fact is that earlier today, the caucus unanimously adopted a position. Senator Payman is more than welcome back to participate in the team if she agrees that she is part of the team,” he said. “I had a very simple and constructive discussion with Senator Payman on Sunday. I invited her to The Lodge and had a very civil and constructive discussion with her last week as well.”

Despite fury from within Labor Party ranks of Senator Payman’s behaviour, and some concern over the lack of consultation with the caucus by Mr Albanese before he enforced his first modest punishment on the senator last Tuesday, no questions were raised in caucus on Tuesday morning about the matter.

Instead, the party unanimously endorsed the position that Senator Payman had placed herself “outside of the privilege that comes with participating” in caucus.

“If Senator Payman decides she will respect the caucus and her Labour colleagues, she can return, but until then Senator Payman is suspended from the right to participate,” read the motion, agreed upon by the voices rather than a ballot.

Mr Albanese responded to criticism over his decision to “show restraint” and not expel Senator Payman, declaring “showing restraint and some compassion is a strength not a weakness”.

However, Labor sources said Mr Albanese must not rule out ­expelling Senator Payman, should she continue her strategy of “looking to be booted” from the party to make a political statement this week or after the winter break.

The Greens would not rule out bringing back their vote on Palestinian statehood to the Senate on Wednesday or Thursday, confirming they planned to reintroduce it to the House of Representatives in the next sitting fortnight.