Albanese says he has shown ‘strength in restraint’ by not expelling rogue senator

Anthony Albanese says he has shown strength in compassion by staring down Coalition demands to sack rogue senator Fatima Payman over her decision to vote with the Greens on recognising a Palestinian state. The prime minister’s remarks came hours after senior minister Bill Shorten extended an olive branch to Payman, arguing she could still contribute to Labor if her dispute with the party were settled. Greens senators watch on as Fatima Payman crosses the floor during a division on a motion to recognise a state of Palestine last week.

Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Albanese summoned her to The Lodge on Sunday to suspend her from Labor’s caucus and the 29-year-old claimed on Monday she had been “exiled” and intimidated by colleagues furious that she had broken party convention by crossing the floor. She said there were attempts to get her to resign from the Senate after the prime minister told her on Sunday to consider her position. At a Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday, MPs backed a motion to suspend Payman from the caucus until she decided she could “respect” party rules.



The vote was unanimous and carried “on the voices”, meaning votes were not counted because there were no MPs who opposed it. Albanese, according to a Labor spokesman who briefed journalists on the caucus meeting, said he had received criticism for not expelling Payman. The Coalition and a small minority of Labor MPs have said Payman should face stronger penalties.

“Showing restraint and compassio.