Muslim Australian lawmaker says she was urged to drink, 'dance on table'
A scathing review in 2021 found Australia's parliament was rife with heavy drinking, bullying and sexual harassment. - Reuters
SYDNEY: A Muslim lawmaker in Australia said Wednesday (May 28) that she has complained to a parliamentary watchdog after a male colleague allegedly urged her to drink wine and "dance on the table".
Senator Fatima Payman -- who said she does not drink alcohol -- claimed the older colleague made a series of inappropriate remarks after he "had too many drinks" at an official function.
He said: "Let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table," Payman, 30, told national broadcaster ABC.
"I told this colleague, 'Hey I'm drawing a line mate', and moved on to making a formal complaint," she said.
It was not clear when the alleged incident occurred or who the colleague was.
Born in Afghanistan, Payman is the first senator to wear a hijab inside Australia's parliament, according to local media.
Former political staffer Brittany Higgins in 2021 alleged she was raped by a colleague inside a parliamentary office, triggering protests across the country.
A scathing review later found Australia's parliament was rife with heavy drinking, bullying and sexual harassment.
Independent Senator Payman split from the left-leaning Labor government in 2024 after accusing it of failing to help Palestinians in Gaza. - AFP
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