Fatima Payman's colleagues support the decision to exclude her from the group, but signal that she would be welcome back

Two senior Western Australian Labor MPs have backed the party leadership’s decision to expel Fatima Payman from the Labor caucus despite warnings that she would switch sides again.

The Prime Minister told Western Australia’s Labor Senator yesterday that she was no longer welcome in the party as long as she continued to violate strict party rules.

Last week, Senator Payman voted against her Labor colleagues and supported a Greens motion on a Palestinian state.

Senator Payman has been outspoken in calling for Australia to recognise a Palestinian state, and her actions come nine months after the start of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The senator warned on Sunday that she would switch sides if the situation occurred again.

Resources Minister Madeleine King, who represents the electorate of Brand in Perth’s south, said the party’s rules – and the consequences for breaking them – were well known.

“It has long been clear to everyone that we need to join forces and show solidarity with our colleagues in order to move forward together after a discussion,” she said.

“This is how we proceed, and this is how we have always proceeded.

“Everyone knows that. Senator Payman knows that. We’re not going to change overnight because of that, and I don’t think we need to.”

As a result of the suspension, Senator Payman will no longer be part of the Labor caucus and will not be able to attend meetings or participate in party decisions.

Patrick Gorman says Labour MPs commit to “a number of things” when elected to Parliament.(ABC News: Keane Bourke)

Before meeting Anthony Albanese at the Lodge in Canberra on Sunday morning, she stated on ABC’s “Insider” program that she had no intention of leaving the Labor Party or the parliamentary group.

In an interview on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles argued that Senator Payman would not be in federal parliament “if the Labor Party were not standing alongside her.”

Patrick Gorman, deputy minister to the prime minister and MP for Perth, said Labor members knew what deal they were signing up to.

“If we are elected to Parliament, there are a number of things we commit to,” he said.

“If people cannot meet these commitments, things obviously need to change.

“It’s not the faction that has changed, it’s not the Labor Party that has changed, it’s Senator Payman who has changed. And it’s really a matter that concerns only them.”

“I’m sure she would be welcome”: Some are open to Payman’s return

Senator Payman’s suspension from the caucus is indefinite, but a statement from a government spokesperson outlined the conditions of her return.

“If Senator Payman decides that she will respect the caucus and her Labor colleagues, she may return, but until then Senator Payman is barred from attending Labor caucus meetings and proceedings in the Federal Parliament,” they said.

Ms King said she was open to this, provided a willingness to comply with party rules could be demonstrated.

“If she wants to respect the way we run our group – which is solidarity and cooperation for the mutual benefit of the Australian people – and she decides to change her mind and respect her group colleagues, I am sure she will be welcomed back into the group,” she said.

Payman could return if she wants to “respect the way we run our group,” says Madeleine King.(AAP: Mick Tsikas)

The Labor Party’s rules are different from those of the Liberal Party and the National Party, which offer more leniency to their backbenchers who want to vote against the party line.

Although party defections remain relatively rare, some coalition backbenchers occasionally use this option without seeking formal approval from their party.

But opposition leader Peter Dutton warned Albanese that if the Labor Party sets rules, they must be enforced.

“I think it is time for the Prime Minister to show leadership,” he said of the decision to suspend Senator Payman.

“He was treated with utter contempt.”

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