Fatima Payman
Exclusive
Political leadership
Voters want Labor to allow MPs more freedom to break ranks
The exclusive findings highlight public support for politicians to speak out against the party line when they feel strongly on big issues.
- by David Crowe
Latest
Opinion
Political leadership
Identity politics has the power to be meaningful. If only we stopped making it an incoherent mess
Since the resignation of Senator Fatima Payman, fretting about identity politics has become a renewed national sport. Now it’s the frame through which all political actions must pass.
- by Waleed Aly
Fatima Payman finds a friendly Labor comrade in Sydney
The senator, who quit the ALP last week over the Albanese government’s stance on the war in Gaza, will appear at an event with a NSW Labor MP this month.
- by Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook
Embattled MP slams Muslim Vote claim that Labor’s ‘weak on Palestine’
Labor’s Peter Khalil has become the first MP to push back against claims made by a burgeoning pro-Palestinian political movement aiming to unseat Labor politicians.
- by Paul Sakkal
Opinion
Political leadership
Will Fatima Payman become the Pauline Hanson of the left? That’s up to her
The now-independent WA senator has chosen performative identity politics over Labor Party solidarity. But her next decision could have even more profound implications for Australian politics.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
ALP
Payman saga shows Labor can’t have its caucus, and eat it too
Fatima Payman has given up her chance to challenge the way Labor Party democracy currently works, and that’s a pity.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Culture wars
Australia will lose if Payman’s identity politics triumphs
The senator’s passionate politics renders compromise unpalatable. The last thing Australia needs is this type of politics.
- by Parnell Palme McGuinness
The six weeks that turned Fatima Payman’s rift with Labor into a chasm
Fatima Payman was a quiet backbencher for her first two years in the Senate. But for the past six weeks the former union official has become a household name.
- by James Massola and Paul Sakkal
PM warns against faith-based political movements as Payman hints at next move
Payman said “stay tuned” and “anything can happen” when asked if she wanted to collaborate with a coalition of Muslim community groups planning to run against Labor MPs.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
ALP
NSW Labor braces for state conference threats after Payman defection
The premier has warned against any move to “smash up” the state conference, and put his own MPs on notice about party solidarity.
- by Max Maddison
Analysis
Political leadership
Fatima Payman has hurt Labor badly. And she isn’t done yet
Senator Fatima Payman’s defection to the crossbench has caused major damage to the government. And she isn’t done yet, either.
- by James Massola