Fatima Payman says she is “grieving” after deciding to quit Labor to sit as an independent, a move that party president Wayne Swan claims will “empower Labor’s opponents on the far right”.
Payman said on Thursday she felt she had no choice but to quit Labor after her advocacy for the Australian government to recognise a Palestinian state. She claimed voters were “frustrated” at Labor’s position on the war in Gaza, and that she was displaying “Labor values” in the positions she had taken.
Payman’s announcement she was resigning from Labor and would remain on the crossbench as an independent was met with mixed reactions on Thursday, with government MPs expressing disappointment while the Greens and crossbench praised her decision. A number of staffers for Labor, Greens and independent politicians attended her press conference.
Payman was indefinitely suspended from caucus on Sunday after giving a television interview where she said she would cross the floor again and vote against her party on issues of Palestinian statehood.
Labor MPs had said as late as Thursday morning that they hoped Payman would remain on the government benches. In her press conference, Payman claimed she had experienced “a mixed response” from former colleagues, alleging she had been subject to “intimidation”. She also claimed information about her situation was being inappropriately shared by others and that some senators didn’t want to sit near her in the chamber.
Government services minister Bill Shorten said he was “sad and disappointed” that anyone chooses to leave Labor.
“The party is bigger than any of us… we get elected because we’ve got ‘Labor’ next to our name,” he said in an ABC television interview. “I’m disappointed that having been elected under the Labor flag, she sees the grass is greener elsewhere. That is her choice.”
“She feels strongly on Palestine. We all want to see the tanks out of Gaza. We all want the violence to stop. I want the hostages back. It’s not the issue. She didn’t want to agree with the rules that she’d signed up to. The prime minister gave her time and space. She’s walked.”
On Thursday, Payman downplayed suggestions she might seek to start her own political party or collaborate with Muslim community organisations which are launching campaigns against Labor MPs in western Sydney and Melbourne seats. She also said she would not join the Greens.
Payman has admitted meeting people behind the Muslim Vote grassroots political group as well as political strategist Glenn Druery, but said they were just some of “many” meetings she had had recently while considering her political future.
On ABC TV, Payman further explained her position on the vote around Palestinian statehood, claiming Australia recognising Palestine would help end the war in Gaza, and rejecting the government’s position that recognition should only come well in future.
“When is that timeframe? How many more Palestinians should be killed, before we’re like, ‘we should recognise Palestine now’,” she said.
“[Recognition] will put pressure on Israel to ensure that it cannot act with impunity, that it does not just continue conducting the way it is. This is an incremental step towards something that’s greater, and I know that Australia will not stop the war single-handedly. But if a small country like Norway can recognise the state of Palestine, I think we can be a leader now.”
“Every effort is worth making, especially when it’s in [Labor’s party] platform.”
In a statement posted to Labor’s official social media accounts, party president Swan backed Labor’s rule of caucus solidarity.
“In this era of hyper individualism, disinformation and the rise of the fascist right, our commitment to solidarity – that all of us have a stake in each other’s success – is more important than ever, particularly as the right tries to fan racial and gender intolerance,” Swan wrote, in the statement titled ‘unity matters’.
“Labor has worked hard to secure peace in the Middle East and has consistently supported a two state solution.”
“Our past achievements tell us there is simply no substitute for the power of collective action to deliver social progress domestically and internationally.”
“Senator Payman’s decision to place herself outside the party can only empower Labor’s opponents on the far right and on the left who have always opposed progressive foreign, economic and environmental policy.”
But Payman was praised by the Greens leader Adam Bandt, who tweeted “courage” alongside a photo of the senator.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, who quit the Greens to sit as an independent, praised Payman’s actions on social media, saying she had the “deepest respect” for Payman, calling her actions “a powerful and courageous move”.
“You’re on the right side of history Senator, and you’ll be a welcome addition to the crossbench. We need more strong young independent women in our parliament like you,” Thorpe tweeted.
Payman told Sky News that she would not necessarily back Labor on all votes in the Senate in future, and would decide on each individual vill.
“I’m still figuring out what that would look like. Obviously, I’ve held on to Labor values for a very long time,” she said.
“You can say I’m grieving a little, understanding that you know, this is going to have a huge impact on me and the way I conduct myself in this place.”