Latest news with #FatimaPayman
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Black cladding': Lidia Thorpe erupts over Dorinda Cox's defection to Labor
Ex-Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe has slammed the defection of Senator Dorinda Cox to the Labor Party as 'black cladding' to promote the illusion that the ALP cares. The controversial term has been compared to 'corporate blackface', with the concept describing companies that have little to no diversity in their leadership or ownership ranks, but trade off African American culture or the reputation of a few. For example, the term has been used to describe the world's biggest brands frequently using African American athletes in their campaigns, despite the fact diversity at the executive and board level remains woeful. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the shock move of Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, on Monday, revealing she had 'sat down and thought a lot about this, and her values are more aligned with Labor than the Greens'. But now the last woman to defect from the Greens has weighed in on the big move and she's not impressed. 'It's disappointing to see Senator Cox move from the left to the right by joining the Labor Party,'' Senator Thorpe told 'We know that once you join Labor, you're shut down. 'You're not allowed to cross the floor. You're not allowed to speak freely. You're expected to fall in line. 'If changing Labor from within was possible, Senator Fatima Payman wouldn't have been forced to leave the party over Labor's support for the genocide in Palestine. 'Backbenchers in the Labor Party have no real power to drive change. They must vote with the party, even when it goes against their own conscience or community. 'Labor already has several First Nations MPs. Labor already knows what needs to be done to deliver justice. Yet still, the party continues to fail our people. Adding another black face won't change that. 'This looks like more black cladding from a party that wants to appear committed to justice for our people without doing the work.' Greens leader Larissa Waters has told that she was 'not entirely surprised' by the shock defection. 'Dorinda called me about an hour or so before she stood up at the PM so that was when I knew,'' she told 'I wasn't entirely surprised. It still came as a shock, if that makes sense, 'I mean, she said that her values lie more with the Labor Party. And that's, that's, you know, I think she's spoken truthfully there, right? 'I mean, there's been, there's been some fractiousness over the years. I won't speculate on her motives. I'm prepared to accept the explanation she gave, which was that it was better values-aligned.' Senator Thorpe suggested that Senator Cox would have less power, not more, by joining Labor. 'The idea that Labor can be changed from within — especially as a backbencher — is, to me, a hopeless ambition. I wish Senator Cox luck, but I won't be holding my breath,'' Senator Thorpe said. 'Labor has become a centre-right party. That means I remain the only First Nations federal politician who isn't sitting on the right side of politics. I'll keep using my voice to fight for justice, truth, and Sovereignty — without fear or compromise. 'It's also deeply disappointing that the Greens now have no First Nations representation in the federal parliament. I urge the Greens to listen to grassroots First Nations voices, and their members in the Blak Greens, and rebuild trust with our communities. he Prime Minister said this week he was approached by Senator Cox, who was previously a Labor Party member, to represent Labor in the Senate. 'She had come to a view that the differences that she wanted to make in the Senate and as a West Australian were better served by being a member of the Labor Party,' he said. 'Senator Cox didn't ask for anything, just asked for this to be considered,'' he said. Her defection will lower the minor party's Senate representation to 10 members, but increase the government's numbers to 29. 'We know that the Greens have lost their way,' Mr Albanese told the ABC. 'That's one of the reasons why they lost three of their four seats in the House of Representatives, and the domination of issues that certainly aren't environmental have been their concerns. 'I think having to sit in the Senate while the Greens blocked funding for public housing would grade against anyone who regards themselves as progressive.'
The Guardian
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Anthony Albanese shrugs off Dorinda Cox's sharp criticism of Labor before party switch
Anthony Albanese has brushed off Dorinda Cox's recent strong criticism of the Labor government – of which she is now a member – claiming the senator made the shock party switch because the Greens had 'lost their way' and could not effect social change. Despite Cox's claims in recent weeks that Labor was 'held ransom' by coal and gas companies and had 'spectacularly failed' by approving the North West Shelf gas project, Albanese welcomed the former Green to the government party room. Cox has also criticised Labor for having 'dropped [Indigenous] people like a hot potato'. But Albanese said that Cox had, 'over a period of time, come to the view that the Greens political party are not capable of achieving the change that she wants to see in public life'. 'That's not surprising, given that the Greens have lost their way,' the prime minister said. At a press conference in Perth, Albanese downplayed comparisons between Cox and Fatima Payman, the former Labor senator who was strongly criticised by government members for quitting the party to sit on the crossbench. Cox's defection from the Greens to Labor stunned her former colleagues on Monday. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email She gave the new Greens leader, Larissa Waters, just 90 minutes notice of her move. It came just weeks after Cox was unsuccessful in winning a leadership position in the Greens' caucus ballot, but it's understood there had been quiet discussions between Cox and Labor members for many months. Waters told the ABC that there was 'no animosity' towards Cox. She and Cox had a 'very calm and measured conversation about it. And I did genuinely wish her all the best.' But Waters also noted Labor's approval of the North West Shelf project, which Cox and other Greens had spoken strongly against. 'What with Labor having decided just this last week to approve an absolute carbon bomb off the coast of WA, which would not only have massive climate impacts but which would have huge impacts on ancient rock art, those values are not consistent with Greens values. We have opposed that. But Senator Cox has made her decision that party is the better fit for her,' Waters said. 'It's disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator. But Dorinda has said her values lie there, and you need to be true to yourself, don't you?' Waters denied the Greens had any issue with Indigenous representatives, with Cox's switch coming after Lidia Thorpe's defection to the crossbench in 2023. Cox had campaigned strongly for the Indigenous voice referendum, while Thorpe quit the party in part over the Greens' backing of the referendum. Cox, a Western Australian senator and Yamatji Noongar woman, was the Greens spokesperson for resources, trade, tourism, First Nations and northern Australia issues. She has been a strong voice on issues related to the justice system, fossil fuels and environmental damage, domestic violence, Closing the Gap, and calling for a federal truth and justice commission in the wake of the voice referendum. She had released several press statements scathing of Labor's record on fossil fuel and First Nations issues in recent months, including a statement on 12 May claiming the government was 'being held for ransom' by coal and gas companies, and is 'not committed to transitioning towards renewables'. Cox last week put her name to a Greens joint statement – alongside Waters, Sarah Hanson-Young and Peter Whish-Wilson – claiming that 'the new environment minister has spectacularly failed his first test in the job, after approving the climate-wrecking North West Shelf dirty gas extension to 2070'. Cox declined to comment on the gas project at her press conference with Albanese on Monday. Asked about Cox's prior comments, Albanese on Tuesday shrugged off the criticisms. 'Dorinda Cox understands that being a member of the Labor party means that she will support positions that are made by the Labor party,' he said. 'If you're serious about social change in Australia, the Labor party is where you should be.' The Nine newspapers reported last year that at least 20 staff had left Cox's office since she entered the Senate, with some levelling workplace complaints. At the time, Cox said she took responsibility for 'any shortcomings' in her office and apologised for any distress that may have caused, but said there has been 'significant missing context' in the reports of bullying allegations within her office. Albanese said on Monday that Labor had 'examined everything that had been considered in the past' and it was felt that the 'issues were dealt with appropriately'. On Tuesday, Albanese re-stated that the issues had been 'dealt with' by parliamentary workplace processes. Asked about Payman, who several Labor members suggested should hand back her seat to the government after switching to the crossbench, Albanese said Cox would come up for election at the next poll. 'Fatima Payman, of course, could have put herself before the people of Western Australia on May 3. She chose not to. Dorinda Cox's term is up at the end of this term, and she will have to – if she is pre-selected through ALP processes – put herself forward for election then,' he said.
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Fatima Payman, hijab-wearing Australian lawmaker of Afghan origin, says she was urged to drink, 'dance on table'
A Muslim lawmaker in Australia said on Wednesday 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 Labour government in 2024 after accusing it of failing to help Palestinians in Gaza. Agence France-Presse
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Call it out': senator alleges inappropriate behaviour
An independent senator wants people to call out inappropriate workplace behaviour after alleging a parliamentary colleague taunted her with insensitive comments. Fatima Payman, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, was at a social event as part of parliamentary business when she says an older, male colleague made comments like "let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table". "I don't drink and I don't need to be made ... to feel left out because you do," she told ABC's Triple J radio station. "I told this colleague, 'Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate', and moved on to making a formal complaint." The former Labor senator quit the party over its stance on Palestine and sits in the upper house as an independent. She said poor conduct shouldn't be brushed under the rug. "If that something makes you feel uncomfortable, call it out and say 'yeah that wasn't cool'," Senator Payman said. The issue has been escalated to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, a body established after staffer Brittany Higgins made public allegations about being raped in Parliament House by a colleague. Senator Payman said the support service had taken care of her and she was happy with the swift handling of her complaint. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe's complaint with the agency relating to sexual harassment allegations against Victorian senator David Van remains unresolved. Senator Van denies the allegations and became an independent after quitting the Liberal Party in 2023. His term will finish at the end of June as he wasn't re-elected at the May federal election. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she read reports about Senator Payman's claims with "great concern". "It is simply not good enough to have that behaviour take place in this building," she told reporters in Canberra. "It is vital that reporting of events like this are a reminder to everybody that we must never take our eye off the ball when it comes to continuous improvement in the culture in this building." The service managed 339 cases between 2023 and 2024, according to its most recent annual report. Just under one in 10 cases related to rape and sexual assault, harassment, assault, sexual harassment, stalking or intimidation. A similar proportion were about bullying, about one in five related to family and domestic violence, alcohol and drugs or mental health, while roughly one in four were over workplace conflict. The vast majority were related to staff who help politicians carry out duties, but not for party political purposes, though 17 involved parliamentarians. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 An independent senator wants people to call out inappropriate workplace behaviour after alleging a parliamentary colleague taunted her with insensitive comments. Fatima Payman, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, was at a social event as part of parliamentary business when she says an older, male colleague made comments like "let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table". "I don't drink and I don't need to be made ... to feel left out because you do," she told ABC's Triple J radio station. "I told this colleague, 'Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate', and moved on to making a formal complaint." The former Labor senator quit the party over its stance on Palestine and sits in the upper house as an independent. She said poor conduct shouldn't be brushed under the rug. "If that something makes you feel uncomfortable, call it out and say 'yeah that wasn't cool'," Senator Payman said. The issue has been escalated to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, a body established after staffer Brittany Higgins made public allegations about being raped in Parliament House by a colleague. Senator Payman said the support service had taken care of her and she was happy with the swift handling of her complaint. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe's complaint with the agency relating to sexual harassment allegations against Victorian senator David Van remains unresolved. Senator Van denies the allegations and became an independent after quitting the Liberal Party in 2023. His term will finish at the end of June as he wasn't re-elected at the May federal election. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she read reports about Senator Payman's claims with "great concern". "It is simply not good enough to have that behaviour take place in this building," she told reporters in Canberra. "It is vital that reporting of events like this are a reminder to everybody that we must never take our eye off the ball when it comes to continuous improvement in the culture in this building." The service managed 339 cases between 2023 and 2024, according to its most recent annual report. Just under one in 10 cases related to rape and sexual assault, harassment, assault, sexual harassment, stalking or intimidation. A similar proportion were about bullying, about one in five related to family and domestic violence, alcohol and drugs or mental health, while roughly one in four were over workplace conflict. The vast majority were related to staff who help politicians carry out duties, but not for party political purposes, though 17 involved parliamentarians. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 An independent senator wants people to call out inappropriate workplace behaviour after alleging a parliamentary colleague taunted her with insensitive comments. Fatima Payman, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, was at a social event as part of parliamentary business when she says an older, male colleague made comments like "let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table". "I don't drink and I don't need to be made ... to feel left out because you do," she told ABC's Triple J radio station. "I told this colleague, 'Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate', and moved on to making a formal complaint." The former Labor senator quit the party over its stance on Palestine and sits in the upper house as an independent. She said poor conduct shouldn't be brushed under the rug. "If that something makes you feel uncomfortable, call it out and say 'yeah that wasn't cool'," Senator Payman said. The issue has been escalated to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, a body established after staffer Brittany Higgins made public allegations about being raped in Parliament House by a colleague. Senator Payman said the support service had taken care of her and she was happy with the swift handling of her complaint. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe's complaint with the agency relating to sexual harassment allegations against Victorian senator David Van remains unresolved. Senator Van denies the allegations and became an independent after quitting the Liberal Party in 2023. His term will finish at the end of June as he wasn't re-elected at the May federal election. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she read reports about Senator Payman's claims with "great concern". "It is simply not good enough to have that behaviour take place in this building," she told reporters in Canberra. "It is vital that reporting of events like this are a reminder to everybody that we must never take our eye off the ball when it comes to continuous improvement in the culture in this building." The service managed 339 cases between 2023 and 2024, according to its most recent annual report. Just under one in 10 cases related to rape and sexual assault, harassment, assault, sexual harassment, stalking or intimidation. A similar proportion were about bullying, about one in five related to family and domestic violence, alcohol and drugs or mental health, while roughly one in four were over workplace conflict. The vast majority were related to staff who help politicians carry out duties, but not for party political purposes, though 17 involved parliamentarians. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 An independent senator wants people to call out inappropriate workplace behaviour after alleging a parliamentary colleague taunted her with insensitive comments. Fatima Payman, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, was at a social event as part of parliamentary business when she says an older, male colleague made comments like "let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table". "I don't drink and I don't need to be made ... to feel left out because you do," she told ABC's Triple J radio station. "I told this colleague, 'Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate', and moved on to making a formal complaint." The former Labor senator quit the party over its stance on Palestine and sits in the upper house as an independent. She said poor conduct shouldn't be brushed under the rug. "If that something makes you feel uncomfortable, call it out and say 'yeah that wasn't cool'," Senator Payman said. The issue has been escalated to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, a body established after staffer Brittany Higgins made public allegations about being raped in Parliament House by a colleague. Senator Payman said the support service had taken care of her and she was happy with the swift handling of her complaint. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe's complaint with the agency relating to sexual harassment allegations against Victorian senator David Van remains unresolved. Senator Van denies the allegations and became an independent after quitting the Liberal Party in 2023. His term will finish at the end of June as he wasn't re-elected at the May federal election. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she read reports about Senator Payman's claims with "great concern". "It is simply not good enough to have that behaviour take place in this building," she told reporters in Canberra. "It is vital that reporting of events like this are a reminder to everybody that we must never take our eye off the ball when it comes to continuous improvement in the culture in this building." The service managed 339 cases between 2023 and 2024, according to its most recent annual report. Just under one in 10 cases related to rape and sexual assault, harassment, assault, sexual harassment, stalking or intimidation. A similar proportion were about bullying, about one in five related to family and domestic violence, alcohol and drugs or mental health, while roughly one in four were over workplace conflict. The vast majority were related to staff who help politicians carry out duties, but not for party political purposes, though 17 involved parliamentarians. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
News18
7 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Australian Muslim Senator Alleges Colleague Urged Her To Drink, 'Dance On Table'
Last Updated: A male colleague allegedly urged Fatima Payman to drink wine and "dance on the table" at an official function, she alleged. Australian Muslim lawmaker Fatima Payman formally complained to a parliamentary watchdog after a male colleague allegedly urged her to drink wine and 'dance on the table" at an official function. Fatima Payman claimed that the incident occurred after her colleague had consumed 'too many drinks." The 30-year-old senator does not consume alcohol, she stated, recounting to national broadcaster ABC that the older colleague said, 'Let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table." She immediately told him, 'Hey I'm drawing a line mate," before lodging the formal complaint. The timing of the alleged incident and the identity of the colleague have not been disclosed. Born in Afghanistan, Fatima Payman holds the distinction of being the first senator to wear a hijab in Australia's parliament after being elected in 2022 to represent Western Australia. Originally a Labor senator, Fatima Payman became an independent in 2024, citing disagreements with the government's stance on helping Palestinians in Gaza, and later founded her own political party, Australia's Voice, in October 2024. She migrated to Perth with her family in 2003, with her father arriving by boat in 1999 as a refugee. Fatima Payman holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Western Australia. Before her election to the Senate in 2022, she worked as a pharmacy assistant, an electorate officer and an organizer for the United Workers Union. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
