Labour MP backs party rules after Fatima Payman’s suspension

Sabra Lane: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would have hoped his government’s cost-of-living measures, which come into effect today, would be front and centre in the media this morning and will address those tax cuts shortly. Instead, the focus has been on the indefinite suspension of Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman from the party’s federal caucus. She crossed the sides last week to support a motion on Palestinian statehood and yesterday told the ABC she would do it again, triggering the move to temporarily kick her out of the party. She can only return if she is prepared to give up her independence and show solidarity with the caucus. Here’s politics reporter Tom Lowry.

Tom Lowrey: Yesterday early afternoon, Fatima Payman was called to the Lodge, the Prime Minister’s residence in Canberra. A Nine News team caught the Senator leaving the building.

Fatima Payman: But were you kicked out? No, you weren’t?

Tom Lowrey: Senator Payman has not been expelled from the Labor Party, but she has been suspended indefinitely from membership of the Labor caucus. She will not attend party meetings or have any influence on party decisions or processes. The decision was made by the party leadership, Anthony Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Miles, Senate Leader Penny Wong and Deputy Don Farrell. Senator Payman had already been briefly suspended after switching sides last week to vote against Labor on a motion on Palestinian statehood. This call came just hours after Senator Payman made a statement on the Insiders program.

Fatima Payman: If the same motion to recognize the State of Palestine were submitted tomorrow, I would switch sides.

Tom Lowrey: The Labor Party’s rules are strict. When a decision is made by the caucus, it is respected by all caucus members. As some of her Western Australian colleagues pointed out, everyone understands the rules. Here is the Minister for Resources, Madeline King.

Madeleine King: It is clear to everyone, and has been clear for a long time, that you have to come together and show solidarity with your colleagues to move forward together after a discussion. That is how we do it, that is how we have always done it, and everyone knows that. Senator Payman knows that. We are not going to change overnight because of that, and I don’t think we need to.

Tom Lowrey: And Deputy Prime Minister Pat Gorman.

Pat Gorman: When we are elected to Parliament we have to commit to a number of things. If people cannot keep those commitments then obviously things have to change. It is not the party that has changed, it is not the Labor Party that has changed. Senator Payman has changed and that is really a matter for her.

Tom Lowrey: It is only a suspension, so Senator Payman has the option of returning to Labor provided she complies with party rules. She has previously expressed a desire to stay in Labor, arguing that she has significant support within Labor members. Madeline King says the conflict between Israel and Hamas is not an issue her constituents have raised.

Madeleine King: I held a big meeting of volunteers and friends at the branch just last Friday and no one even brought up this issue. And I suspect that’s because issues like the cost of living are top of mind for people in Rockingham and Kwinana.

Tom Lowrey: Labor is looking to kick off the new parliamentary week with talks on the Stage 3 tax cuts that come into effect today. Labor’s business is Labor’s, but Opposition Leader Peter Dutton still had some free advice to offer.

Peter Dutton: The rules as they stand should be enforced by the Prime Minister. I just don’t think the Prime Minister has the leadership to stand up to Senator Payman, and that’s why he’s in this position now.

Sabra Lane: Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton concluded Tom Lowry’s report.