Albo’s ‘ultimatum’ to rebel senator

Senator Fatima Payman said she was given an ultimatum by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the days before she quit the Labor Party, while also accusing her senate colleagues of intimidation and “stand up (sic) tactics”.

The 29-year-old confirmed she was quitting the Labor Party and standing as an independent after she continually defied the Prime Minister and caucus to support Palestinian statehood.

Senator Payman detailed the conversation she had with Mr Albanese at a tense meeting at the Lodge on Sunday, where she was indefinitely suspended from the party.

She said he provided her with an “ultimatum” in which she was told to either: “Toe the party line and come back inside the tent, or give the position back to the Labor Party”.

In a snap press-conference at Parliament House, she also doubled down on claims fellow Labor caucus members, including senators, had attempted to intimidate her into resigning.

She detailed attempts at “stand up tactics” from certain senate colleagues who attempted to “push” and “invade (her) space”.

“(They were) also controlling and constantly pushing me for an answer when I had not made a decision about whether I would cross the floor … I decided to cross the Senate floor while the divisions were taking place prior,” she told reporters as question time was under way.

Senator Payman said the intimidation had “been on many fronts,” from being escorted to Mr Albanese’s office “almost on show for everyone to see,” to fellow senators who made it clear they didn’t want to sit next to her.

However, she denied questions as to whether she was “intimidated” by the Prime Minister and said she would not characterise his behaviour as that.

The first-term senator from Western Australia announced her decision to quit the party and sit on the cross bench on Thursday afternoon.

During question time, the Prime Minister read aloud a message he had received from Senator Payman, quitting the party.

“Dear Prime Minister, thank you for your leadership. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve in the Australian Labor Party.”

At times, Senator Payman appeared emotional and on the verge of tears, as she detailed her reasons for quitting the Labor party.

“With a heavy heart, but a clear conscience I announce my resignation from the Australian Labor Party,” she said.

“I have informed the prime minister that effective immediately I will sit on the crossbench to represent Western Australia.”

She addressed the press gallery, wearing a pin on her jacket lapel which featured the Aboriginal and Palestinian flags entwined together.

Notably, she was also seen wearing the pin last Tuesday when she became the first member of the ALP caucus in 18 years to cross the floor, voting for a Greens motion to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Under Labor policy, members must vote with the caucus.

She said her resignation from the Labor Party had been the “most difficult decision of my life,” but she no longer believed her “principles aligned with those of the leadership of the Labor Party”.

Senator Payman said, as a former refugee unlike most of her former Labor colleagues, she could not “remain silent”.

“Witnessing our government indifference to the greatest injustice of our times, makes me question the direction the party is taking,” she said.

She said the original Greens motion recognising Palestinian statehood placed her in a “very tough position”.

“It was on conscience,” she said.

“This is a matter that I could not take on lightly and just wait for whenever this peace process is going to happen.”

She said she maintained the support of rank and file Labor members, unionists and party volunteers calling on her to “hang in there.”

She also addressed rumours she had been speaking with Muslim community members from Sydney who were looking to run independent candidates at the next federal election.

However, she said they were just “conversations,” similar to discussions with other groups across the country, and who weren’t Islamic-aligned

Mr Albanese initially suspended her from sitting in caucus for the parliamentary fortnight, but he made the suspension indefinite when she appeared on Insiders on Sunday to say she would cross again.

His decision was unanimously backed by caucus during a party room meeting on Tuesday.

He appeared to foreshadow her exit during question time on Wednesday, hinting she’s been planning her departure for weeks.

“Senator Payman, of course, has made a decision to place herself outside the Labor Party, that is a decision that she made,” he said.

“I expect further announcements in the coming days which will explain exactly what the strategy has been for more than a month.”

Relations between the junior politician and her party appeared to sour on Monday when she released a statement claiming she had been “exiled” by her colleagues.

“I have been removed from caucus meetings, committees, internal group chats, and whips bulletins,” she said.

“I have been told to avoid all chamber duties that require a vote including divisions, motions and matters of public interest.”

Prior to her decision, senior ministers have denied accusations of intimidation or bullying, and said Senator Payman would be allowed back into caucus if she promised to respect ALP rules which state members must vote in unity.

Senator Payman had made several public statements in recent weeks in support of the Palestinian cause and criticised her party’s position in an opinion piece published in Al Jazeera.

The first term politician can now remain as a senator until her term ends in 2028. She was elected for a six-year role at the 2022 election, claiming the hard-to-win third Senate spot on Labor’s ticket for WA.