Fatima Payman
Political Sketch
Web culture
‘Catch a dub’: Fatima Payman tries to make ‘skibidi’ happen in the Senate
The senator made a play for the most new words in Hansard in a two-minute speech, in Gen Z language that came with a glossary for Boomers.
- by Nick Bonyhady
Latest
'Catching a dub': 29-year-old senator Fatima Payman chases Gen Z
The senator made a play for the most new words in parliament within a two-minute speech on Wednesday.
‘Payman is correct’: Senators call for parliament staff overhaul
Crossbench senators who would not usually agree on anything are united. They want the prime minister stripped of the power to decide MPs’ staffing levels.
- by Matthew Knott
Editorial
Political leadership
Rebel senator’s poor grasp of legislation is alarming
The suggestion by the newly independent WA senator she may have to abstain on complex legislation rather than vote on something she does not fully understand beggars belief.
- The Herald's View
Exclusive
Political leadership
To vote or not: Fatima Payman warns Labor she needs more staff to do her job
In her first week as an independent senator, Payman says she will have to abstain from voting if she feels insufficiently briefed. It’s not an idle warning.
- by Matthew Knott
Exclusive
Political leadership
Voters want Labor to allow MPs more freedom to break ranks
The exclusive findings highlight public support for politicians to speak out against the party line when they feel strongly on big issues.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
Political leadership
Identity politics has the power to be meaningful. If only we stopped making it an incoherent mess
Since the resignation of Senator Fatima Payman, fretting about identity politics has become a renewed national sport. Now it’s the frame through which all political actions must pass.
- by Waleed Aly
Fatima Payman finds a friendly Labor comrade in Sydney
The senator, who quit the ALP last week over the Albanese government’s stance on the war in Gaza, will appear at an event with a NSW Labor MP this month.
- by Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook
Embattled MP slams Muslim Vote claim that Labor’s ‘weak on Palestine’
Labor’s Peter Khalil has become the first MP to push back against claims made by a burgeoning pro-Palestinian political movement aiming to unseat Labor politicians.
- by Paul Sakkal
Opinion
Political leadership
Will Fatima Payman become the Pauline Hanson of the left? That’s up to her
The now-independent WA senator has chosen performative identity politics over Labor Party solidarity. But her next decision could have even more profound implications for Australian politics.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
ALP
Payman saga shows Labor can’t have its caucus, and eat it too
Fatima Payman has given up her chance to challenge the way Labor Party democracy currently works, and that’s a pity.
- by Sean Kelly