Fatima Payman, Lidia Thorpe and Pauline Hanson slam Anthony Albanese’s Lodge drinks snub

Labor turncoat Fatima Payman has criticised Anthony Albanese for ‘secretly courting’ the teals after he hosted independent MPs at the Lodge.

Senator Fatima Payman at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Labor turncoat Fatima Payman has criticised Anthony Albanese for “secretly courting” the teals after he hosted independent MPs at The Lodge, accusing the Prime Minister of treating the Senate crossbench with “contempt”.

Senator Payman, who quit the ALP over her stance on Palestine to establish her own party, Australia’s Voice, said Mr Albanese’s decision to host a select group of crossbenchers suggested he was not confident he could win a ­majority at the election.

Mr Albanese hosted teal and independent MPs Kate Cheney, Zoe Daniel, Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Kylea Tink, Sophie Scamps, Monique Ryan, Dai Le, Helen Haines and Rebekha Sharkie on Tuesday night. Calare MP Andrew Gee – who left the Nationals over his support for the failed voice referendum – also ­attended.

The snub united Senator Payman, independent senator Lidia Thorpe and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in criticising Mr Albanese.

“The Prime Minister declares he’s confident of a majority but is secretly courting the teals – is he being dishonest with the ­Australian people?” Senator Payman said.

“Albo’s survival in a minority government depends on the Senate crossbench – the same one his government has treated with contempt in recent times.”

The Coalition seized on the drinks event as proof Mr Albanese was attempting to shore-up support among the teals to guarantee him confidence and supply in a hung parliament, with opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume saying the “whites of his eyes are showing”.

“He realises that he’s going to need those teal independents,” Senator Hume told Sky News. “He’s wooing them pretty hard, but a vote for an independent is clearly going to be a vote to keep Anthony Albanese, and voters should be aware of that.”

Senator Thorpe said overlooking the Senate crossbench was “not a smart thing to do”, adding that she had considered protesting outside The Lodge but had “better things to do”.

“We were pretty disappointed as crossbench senators to hear at our crossbench meeting that we weren’t invited to the shindig down at The Lodge,” she said.

“I understand he wants to build relations heading into an election, even though it will likely be a minority government and the crossbench will be strong.

Kate Chaney and Dai Le Arrive at The Lodge in Canberra on Tuesday.. Picture: Martin Ollman / The Australian

“To think he doesn’t need to build a relationship with the Senate crossbench is a dumb idea.”

Senator Thorpe said John Howard had hosted her at The Lodge and Kirribilli House when he was prime minister, adding that “if I’m good enough to have a feed with Howard, I’m good enough to have a feed with Albo”.

Senator Hanson, who has previously clashed with Senator Payman and Senator Thorpe, said Mr Albanese had shown he was dependent on the Greens.

“The Prime Minister is ­obviously closely watching the polls, which are spelling doom for another majority Labor government after this election, and is wooing teals to give him support in a minority government so he can inflict another three years of misery on Australia,” she said.