Fatima Payman ‘exiled’ by Labor
The Western Australia Labor senator Fatima Payman said she has been “exiled” by the party and colleagues after warning she might cross the floor again on votes relating to Palestinian statehood.
The senator issued a statement on Facebook on Monday afternoon claiming she had been removed from group chats, caucus meetings and ostracized from colleagues.
“The prime minister suspended me indefinitely from the Australian Labor party caucus,” Payman said.
The first-term senator said she had been “exiled” and had been led to believe “some members are attempting to intimidate me into resigning from the Senate”.
“As a result, I will abstain from voting on Senate matters for the remainder of the week, unless a matter of conscience arises where I’ll uphold the true values and principles of the Labor party,” she said.
“I will use this time to reflect on my future and the best way to represent the people of Western Australia.”