Fatima Payman risks Labor membership after crossing floor to support Greens motion on Palestine
First-term senator votes against her party by supporting motion recognising Palestinian statehood Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Labor senator Fatima Payman has crossed the floor of the Senate, voting in support of a Greens motion on recognising Palestinian statehood in a move that imperils her party membership.While Coalition backbenchers are allowed to cross the floor, the Labor party requires all of its parliamentarians to support collective decisions or face the possibility of expulsion. Some Labor members to have crossed the floor have been expelled from the party and others have been suspended. Continue reading...

First-term senator votes against her party by supporting motion recognising Palestinian statehood
- Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
- Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast
The Labor senator Fatima Payman has crossed the floor of the Senate, voting in support of a Greens motion on recognising Palestinian statehood in a move that imperils her party membership.
While Coalition backbenchers are allowed to cross the floor, the Labor party requires all of its parliamentarians to support collective decisions or face the possibility of expulsion. Some Labor members to have crossed the floor have been expelled from the party and others have been suspended. Continue reading...