Fatima Payman resigns from Labor after a long walk on the lonely road to exile
The senator has resigned from the party to sit as an independent following her rebellion over Gaza.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accepted political reality on Sunday by indefinitely suspending Senator Fatima Payman from caucus after she pledged to continue her rebellion over Gaza. By quitting less than a week later, Payman did the same.
Her position in Labor has probably been untenable since she voted against her own government last Tuesday. It’s definitely been untenable since Sunday, when she defiantly pledged to do it again.
And on Thursday afternoon, hours before Senate proceedings wrapped up before a winter break, Payman confirmed what everyone suspected: she will move to the crossbench.
Just metres from where she delivered a defiant statement after crossing the floor last week, the 29 year old fought back tears as she announced she would become the Albanese government's first loss "with a heavy heart but a clear conscience”.
