Senator Fatima Payman delivers brutal four-word message to Anthony Albanese after being vindicated for quitting Labor over Palestine

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Fatima Payman, who sensationally quit Labor over its stance on Gaza, has demanded an apology from Anthony Albanese after he announced the Australian government would recognise Palestinian statehood.
The Prime Minister revealed on Monday that Australia would recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, following similar commitments made by other Western allies including the UK, France and Canada.
Senator Payman, who defied Labor in June 2024 by voting with the Greens to call for the recognition of Palestinian statehood, said she was 'absolutely thrilled' by Monday's announcement, claiming it was vindication for her decision to defy Albanese.
'Having to cross the floor to vote for such an important issue and then having to endure the resulting fallout from Labor and some in the community was one of the most stressful moments of my life,' Senator Payman said in a media release.
'But it is terrific to know that Labor has finally caught up and that my move has been vindicated.'
Senator Payman was forgiving of her former boss, Albanese, claiming she was now 'sanguine' over his decision to 'indefinitely suspend' her for 'disrespecting' the Labor Party caucus.
But that same magnanimity was not matched in Senator Payman's social media comments section, after she shared a buoyant where she claimed that Albanese's long-awaited announcement proved she was 'on the right side of history'.
Responding to a critic who asked if she would 'now apologise to Albo and beg to be allowed back in the party', Senator Payman did not mince her words.
'Why would I do that lol?', she responded, in her trademark 'youth-speak'.
'I stuck by the Labor Party Platform and did right by the members. He owes me an apology.'
A spokesperson for Senator Payman told the Daily Mail she has not heard anything from the Prime Minister's office or any one within Labor's senior ranks.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked on Wednesday morning whether Senator Payman had now been vindicated in her decision to quit Labor but dodged the question.
'I always think that whether it's Senator Payman or others, we're better off working for change within the party, rather than sitting outside the party,' Chalmers told ABC RN.
'She doesn't have an identical view to the government on this still, and this government works through issues in a considered, consultative and methodical way, and that's why we've made this announcement that we made earlier in the week.'
'I haven't spoken to Senator Payman about it, or heard any public commentary from her.
'No doubt there's been some. But we work through these issues in our own way, on our own, in our own time, and that's what's seen the progress delivered this week.'
Senator Payman, who is in the process of founding her own party, said that recognition of Palestinian statehood was only the first step.
'Now we need sanctions on Israel, an end to the arms trade, full transparency in our trade relationships, and recognition of the Palestinian right to return,' she added.
'Only then can recognition be matched with the meaningful action Palestinians deserve.'
Labor's long-awaited announcement triggered a flurry of furious criticism from Israel and Jewish groups, who accused them of playing into Hamas 's hands by 'effectively 'rewarding terrorism'.
However, Albanese hit back, accusing the Israeli government of presiding over a 'completely unacceptable' situation whereby Gazans are dying of starvation.
Albanese said that when he spoke to Netanyahu last Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister made the same argument that he had made a year ago.
'That if we just had more military action in Gaza, somehow that will produce a different outcome,' Albanese told the ABC.
'What it's producing is more and more innocent lives being lost. More and more violence. More and more destitution that we're seeing play out with the starvation that has occurred in Gaza.'
Albanese accused Netanyahu of being 'in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people'.
Labor's support for Palestinian statehood is contingent on Hamas playing no role in any future government, free elections being held and demilitarisation of the region.
However, serious doubts have been raised about the faith Albanese is placing in the 89-year-old Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas, who has not faced election since 2005 in the notoriously corrupt West Bank, has also promised to end 'pay to slay' rewards for terrorists and their families.
However, Jewish groups have pointed out that he has a notorious track record of breaking promises.