Exclusive by ABC political reporter Tom Crowley and ABC politics lead David Speers
Senator Fatima Payman is seen during a Pro-Palestine rally on 28 October, 2023 in Perth, Australia. Photo: Matt Jelonek / Getty Images
Labor senator Fatima Payman has confirmed she is leaving the party to sit as an independent.
As reported by the ABC earlier on Thursday afternoon, the senator confirmed she will not be joining any Muslim community-linked party.
She said she was "deeply torn" over the decision and continued to believe in the principles of the Labor Party, but felt she could see "no middle ground" that would allow her to remain in the party.
"My conscience leaves me no choice," she said.
Payman said her resignation would take immediate effect and that she had already informed the prime minister.
The first-term senator from Western Australia was "indefinitely suspended" from the Labor caucus, where MPs discuss the government's agenda and tactics, last week after she defied the party and voted with the Greens to call for the recognition of Palestinian statehood - and then vowed to do so again if necessary.
Payman will now sit on the crossbench, meaning the government will need an additional vote in the Senate in order to pass legislation if it is not supported by the opposition.
Senator Fatima Payman (R), the first Afghan-Australian Muslim woman in Parliament, attends a session in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra on 26 July, 2022. Photo: AFP
Labor speculation about new party quashed
Payman quashed speculation coming from the Labor Party that she would join forces with The Muslim Vote, a grassroots organisation which says it plans to endorse independents with pro-Palestinian stances in several Labor-held seats.
That speculation was linked to the fact that Payman is being advised by minor party "whisperer" Glenn Druery, who has also been advising Muslim community groups about political campaigns.
Payman confirmed she had spoken to the group about their plans but had not discussed joining them.
In Question Time on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he believed Payman had been pursuing a "strategy" related to her departure dating back at least a month.
But Payman told the ABC she believed the party was spreading that perception because it was upset with her actions.
- ABC