Fatima Payman's colleagues back decision to suspend her from caucus, but signal she would be welcome back

Two senior West Australian Labor MPs have backed the decision of the parliamentary party's leadership to suspend Fatima Payman from Labor's caucus, over warnings she will cross the floor again.

The WA Labor Senator was yesterday told by the prime minister she was no longer welcome in caucus so long as she continued to break strict party rules.

Last week Senator Payman voted against her Labor colleagues in support of a Greens motion regarding Palestinian statehood.

Senator Payman has been outspoken in her calls for Australian recognition of Palestinian statehood, and her actions come nine months into the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The senator warned on Sunday she would cross the floor if the situation arose again.

Resources Minister Madeleine King, who represents the Brand electorate in Perth's south, said the party's rules — and the consequences for breaking them — are well known.

"It's very clear to everyone, and has been for a long time, that to move together after discussion you have to band together and have solidarity with your colleagues," she said.

"That is how we operate, and it's how we've always operated.

"Everybody knows that. Senator Payman knows that. We're not going to change overnight because of this, and I don't think we need to."

The suspension will see Senator Payman left outside the Labor caucus, unable to attend meetings or be part of party decisions.

She told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday morning, before the meeting with Anthony Albanese at the Lodge in Canberra, that she had no intention of quitting the Labor Party or the caucus.

During an interview on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles argued Senator Payman would not be in federal parliament "if not for the fact" Labor was next to her name.

Patrick Gorman, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and member for Perth, said Labor members know the deal they are signing up to.

"When we get elected to parliament there's a range of things that we commit to," he said.

"If people can't keep those commitments then obviously things need to change.

"It's not the caucus that's changed, it's not the Labor Party that's changed, it is Senator Payman that has changed. And it's really a matter for her."

'I'm sure she'd be welcomed back': Some open to Payman's return

Senator Payman's suspension from caucus is indefinite, but a statement from a government spokesperson set out the terms of her return.

"If Senator Payman decides she will respect the caucus and her Labor colleagues she can return, but until then Senator Payman is suspended from the right to participate in federal parliamentary Labor Party caucus meetings and processes," they said.

Ms King said she was open to that happening, if that commitment to stick with party rules can be demonstrated.

"If she wants to respect the way we manage our caucus — which is about solidarity and working together to a mutual benefit of the Australian people — and she decides to change her mind and respect her caucus colleagues, I'm sure she'll be welcomed back into the caucus," she said.

Labor's rules differ to the Liberal and National Parties, which offer more leniency to their backbenchers who wish to vote against party lines.

While floor-crossings remain relatively rare, some Coalition backbenchers occasionally take up the option without formal sanction by their party.

But Opposition leader Peter Dutton has warned Mr Albanese that if Labor is going to set rules, they should be enforced.

"I think it's about time that the prime minister demonstrated some leadership," he said of the decision to suspend Senator Payman.

"He's been treated with complete contempt."