Labor government suspends Australian senator for supporting recognition of Palestinian state

By Anadolu staff

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday that the ruling party suspended Labor Sen. Fatima Payman for supporting a motion in parliament to recognize a Palestine state, according to media reports.

“I met with Senator Payman earlier today. She will not be attending the Labor caucus this session,” Albanese told parliament, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported.

The young senator from Western Australia crossed the floor Tuesday and supported the motion moved by Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the Australian Greens party, in parliament.

It was the first time a Labor politician had crossed the floor since 1986, to support any motion, while the party was in power.

It was also the second attempt in as many months by lawmakers to follow 145 nations that recognize Palestine as an independent state.

Payman stood by her decision after reports of expected action from Labor to expel her from the party and said she was not elected as a "token representative of diversity."

"I was elected to serve the people of Western Australia and uphold the values instilled in me by my late father. Today, I have made a decision that would make him proud and make everyone proud who is on the side of humanity," she told reporters, after the vote in parliament on Palestine.

Last month, the House of Representatives also blocked a similar attempt by the Greens to recognize a Palestinian state in an 80 – 5 vote.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid