Senator Fatima Payman discloses 'inappropriate' behaviour by senior parliamentary colleague

Australia Broadcast Center

27-05-2025

Independent senator Fatima Payman has disclosed that she was subjected to sexually suggestive and racially insensitive comments by an older male parliamentary colleague, leading to a formal complaint through the Parliamentary Workplace Support System (PWSS).
Senator Payman told triple j hack that the comments were made by a senior colleague who she alleges "had had too many drinks" at a social function she attended through the course of official parliamentary business.
Comments included sentiments like "let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table", Senator Payman said.
The former Labor senator-turned independent said the comments were sexually suggestive and made her feel singled out as a Muslim woman who doesn't consume alcohol.
"I don't drink and I don't need to be made… to feel left out because you do," she said, referencing her older colleague.
"I told this colleague, 'Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate' and moved on to making a formal complaint," Senator Payman said.
Senator Payman, who was the youngest member of the last parliamentary session, said Gen Z don't shy away from calling out poor behaviour.
"Being clear is being kind. You actually are helping somebody understand what your boundaries are by speaking up," she said.
The complaint was escalated to the PWSS, an independent body initially created in the wake of allegations made by staffer Brittany Higgins that she was raped in Parliament House by a colleague.
Senator Payman said she was happy with the "swift" way the complaint was handled.
"Being looked after and taken care of by the Parliamentary Workplace [Support] Service was really, really good."
The agency received about 3,000 calls in 2024, with half of them relating to HR inquiries from both employers and employees, according to figures from PWSS.
According to the first annual report released by the PWSS in October last year, the agency handled around 30 serious cases of wrongdoing, including sexual assault, harassment and stalking.
Also in October last year, new laws came into effect establishing an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC), a new body with stronger powers to investigate and sanction politicians who misbehave.
The formation of the IPSC was part of the recommendations of a review into parliamentary culture undertaken by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
Not all politicians have been as positive about the PWSS complaints process as Senator Payman.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has two outstanding complaints with the agency: one relating to sexual harassment allegations against Senator David Van, and another relating to bullying by her former Greens colleagues.
When asked about the status of these claims in an interview with triple j hack, Senator Thorpe replied "your guess is as good as mine".
"I haven't had any updates in quite a long time, I would say over six months," Senator Thorpe said.
Senator David Van resigned from the Liberal Party after multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour, and ran as an independent in May's election. His bid for re-election was unsuccessful.
The PWSS has told triple j hack that a claim made by a parliamentarian is ongoing, even if the alleged perpetrator resigns or loses his or her seat.
Senator Thorpe is sceptical of the IPSC, calling it a "protection racket where the two major parties look after each other".
"It's a closed-door process where the two major parties — particularly a majority [who are] white people — decide on any ramifications that may come from anyone doing the wrong thing in the workplace," Senator Thorpe said.
The Privileges Committee, which decides on the sanctions for serious misconduct under the IPSC, is made up mostly of members of the major parties.
Former member of the committee, Labor MP Kate Thwaites, told ABC TV last year that the committee is non-partisan.
"The members of that committee are not thinking about what is the political point I can score here? They are thinking about what is the obligation I have to the parliament."
The incoming session of parliament is expected to be younger and more diverse than ever before and include the highest number of women.
Senators Thorpe and Payman both hope that they can help improve the notoriously poor culture in Parliament House.
Fatima Payman, who was elected at 28 and is the only parliamentarian to wear a hijab, said she hopes the new crop can "shift the dial" on the entrenched ways of the major parties.
She said she has already seen an improvement in the culture of Parliament House due to "young people who aren't afraid of calling things out and who aren't afraid of being visible".
Senator Thorpe, who has been in parliament since 2020, agreed that parliamentary culture has improved, especially around the excessive consumption of alcohol.
"You're not seeing politicians walking in [to the chambers] blind drunk or paralytic drunk, which is what I've seen in my time.
"Men are behaving themselves and know that other men have been put on notice many times before and they don't want to be another one to be called out," Senator Thorpe said.
She also said working hours have become more family-friendly, which has helped diversify the type of people who are attracted to the job.
But Senator Thorpe said culture has a long way to go in terms of being safe for culturally and linguistically diverse people and First Nations people like herself.
"Racism is real," Senator Thorpe said, pointing out that parliamentarians can make racist comments in the chamber, but calling a fellow senator or MP "racist" is deemed unparliamentary and is often forced to be withdrawn.
She's calling on the new government to use its huge majority in the House of Representatives to use its power to make lasting change.
"Racism training needs to be mandatory and Labor have an opportunity to make these good changes so that everyone's safe," Senator Thorpe said.