Latest news with #Payman
Gulf Today
28-05-2025
- 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
28-05-2025
- 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
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Muslim Australian Lawmaker Says She Was Urged To Drink, 'Dance On Table'
A Muslim lawmaker in Australia said 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 Labor government in 2024 after accusing it of failing to help Palestinians in Gaza.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Drink wine and dance on table': Australian Senator Fatima Payman calls out senior male colleague's remark
AP photo Australian senator Fatima Payman has formally complained that an "old male parliamentary colleague" asked her to drink alcohol and dance on the table during an official function. ABC News's Triple J Hack program first reported the news, quoting Payman as saying the colleague said, 'let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table.' Payman, who is a Muslim and does not drink alcohol, viewed the comment as sexually suggestive and culturally offensive. She said that the incident took place at a work-related event where the male colleague "had had too many drinks." 'I don't drink and I don't need to be made … to feel left out because you do,' she said. She added that she drew a clear boundary at the time, telling the colleague, 'Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate.' "Being clear is being kind. You actually are helping somebody understand what your boundaries are by speaking up," she added. Payman further proceeded to file a formal complaint through the parliamentary workplace support service. She has since spoken positively about the way the PWSS handled her report. 'Being looked after and taken care of by the parliamentary workplace supports service was really, really good,' she said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning For Working Professionals. BITS Pilani WILP Apply Now Undo Elected in 2022 as a Labor senator for Western Australia, Payman left the party in 2024 after defying party lines to support a Greens-led motion recognising Palestinian statehood. In the 2022 Australian federal election, Payman was elected to the Australian Senate as a senator for Western Australia. She became the third youngest senator in Australian history. Payman is the first Muslim woman to wear a hijab in the Australian parliament.
India Today
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Dance on the table: Australian MP alleges sexist remarks by male colleague
An Australian lawmaker has filed a complaint against a senior male colleague, alleging she was subjected to sexually suggestive and racially insensitive remarks at a parliamentary social to an ABC News report, Senator Fatima Payman (30) said the unnamed colleague, who she described as having "had too many drinks," made comments such as, "let's get some wine into you and see you dance on the table."advertisementPayman, a Muslim woman of Afghan origin, said the comments made her feel "singled out" because she does not consume alcohol. "I don't drink and I don't need to be made... to feel left out because you do," Payman said, referring to her older colleague."I told this colleague, 'Hey, I'm drawing a line, mate,' and moved on to making a formal complaint," she stated she lodged the complaint through the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service and was satisfied with the "swift" handling of the as a Labor senator from Western Australia in 2022, Payman was the youngest member of the last parliamentary left the Labor Party in 2024 after voting with the Greens on a motion advocating for Palestinian statehood, a stance not supported by her former
