A senior Labor figure has ruled out the expulsion and suspension of first-time West Australian senator Fatima Payman after she voted against the government on a Greens motion recognising the statehood of Palestine.
On Tuesday afternoon, the 29-year-old defied her colleagues and became the first Labor member to cross the floor in 18 years.
While her move risked expulsion or suspension from the ALP, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said neither of these sanctions would be applied to Senator Payman.
“This is a difficult issue. Fatima has made clear that she continues to maintain her Labor values, that she wants to represent the people of WA in the Senate as a Labor senator, as she was elected at the last election … There won’t be any expulsions or any activity of that kind,” he told the ABC on Wednesday morning.
