Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says “no individual is bigger than the team” as he and senior ministers defended the decision to indefinitely suspend WA Senator Fatima Payman from Labor caucus.
Mr Albanese said Senator Payman made a deliberate decision to disrupt the Federal Government’s attempts to sell its flagship tax cuts when she vowed to again cross the floor to support Palestinian statehood.
He said her actions were designed to “undermine” Labor’s agreed position on Palestine.
The prime minister summoned Senator Payman to the Lodge in Canberra on Sunday afternoon to relay the punishment, which turned a one-week caucus ban into an indefinite suspension.
In his first public comments since issuing the sanction, Mr Albanese referenced his AFL side Hawthorn’s thumping defeat of West Coast on Sunday night to explain the decision.
“The way that they won was that they’re not the best team on paper, but they act as a team,” Mr Albanese told ABC News radio.
“They pass the ball to each other. They don’t just kick at random. They don’t say, ‘We won’t worry about the rules, we’ll throw rather than handball.
“They listen to the coach’s instructions.”
Mr Albanese pointed out West Coast had the “best young footballer in the league” – a clear reference to superstar Harley Reid.
The decision to suspend a young, Muslim woman for breaking ranks to support Palestinian statehood is already sparking a backlash from dozens of Muslim community groups and will create tension among rank-and-file Labor members and some unions.
Mr Albanese on Sunday reiterated Labor’s support for Palestinian recognition as part of two-state solution.
The Greens motion that Senator Payman last week crossed the floor to support only called for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Mr Albanese said the Greens’ “stunt” was designed to put Senator Payman in a “difficult position”.
“It wasn’t designed to assist Palestinians in Gaza. It wasn’t designed to advance the peace process. And it was counterproductive,” he said.
The Labor leadership is prepared to welcome Senator Payman back into the fold if she agrees to toe the line.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said she was “hopeful” Senator Payman would return to caucus but it was ultimately up to her.
“She’s been a good colleague. She’s a fantastic politician. But you know, there has to be a consequence for this,” she said.
Senator Payman is present in the chamber for the swearing-in of new Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Monday morning.