Labor senator expelled from caucus after defiant support for Palestinian state
On live TV, a rebellious warning. If the same motion on recognising the state of Palestine was to be brought forward tomorrow, I would cross the floor. Fatima Payman, the young backbench senator who crossed the floor this week determined to not be a token for diversity, even if it costs her popularity in the party. As I understand, there's been various colleagues who have been upset with me and frustrated I've received the cold shoulder, but there has been an overwhelming majority who have stood up in solidarity. Her choice to vote against the rest of her party? A breach of Labour rules. Caucus solidarity, what it is to be a member of the team. Is fundamentally important to everyone of us. It forms that the it's the heart of the obligations that we have, an obligation. The Prime Minister decided she no longer met, summoning her to the lodge to indefinitely suspend her from the party's caucus. When we get elected to Parliament there's a range of things that we commit to. If people can't keep those commitments then obviously things need to change. That is how we operate and it's how we've always operated and everybody knows that. Senator Payne knows that. It's about time that the Prime Minister demonstrated some leadership. The reason this is such a big deal is because under Labour Party rules you have to vote with the caucus even if you disagree. It's led to many reflecting on Penny Wong, who years ago had to oppose same sex marriage as she worked from within the party to win support on the issue. Their advocacy from within. It took 10 years to legislate and say same sex marriage. We're talking about 40,000 Palestinians being massacred here. These Palestinians do not have 10 years. That urgency on full display elsewhere in the capital at a site honouring lives lost in conflicts gone by. A call to end the current one, but done in a way that's drawn quick condemnation. The government labelling the graffiti horrible and completely unacceptable.