Fatima Payman confirms she would cross the floor again as Deputy Prime Minister issues blunt warning

Fatima Payman’s future with Labor is in doubt after the rogue WA senator vowed to defy party leadership and again cross the floor to support Palestinian recognition.

The Greens are set to immediately test Senator Payman’s resolve with more votes on Palestine and the Gaza conflict to be brought forward this week in the Senate.

The internal drama is a political headache for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that threatens to derail efforts to keep focus on its long-awaited tax cuts, which start on Monday.

Senator Payman has stoked fresh anger inside Labor ranks after using an appearance on national television on Sunday morning to confirm she would again cross the floor if the Greens put a forward a motion to recognise Palestine for a second consecutive week.

The Afghan-born senator says she wants to remain inside Labor caucus, insisting her act of defiance to champion human rights was consistent with party values.

But that decision could be taken out of her hands with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles sending the clearest signal yet that Senator Payman could be booted from caucus if she broke ranks again.

One Labor MP said Senator Payman’s position in caucus would be “untenable” if she followed through – if wasn’t already after Sunday’s interview on ABC’s Insiders program

Senator Payman’s future is expected to be debated at Labor’s caucus meeting, which she won’t attend as a consequence of last week’s act of party disloyalty.

Labor sources said further sanctions, including the possibility of expelling Senator Payman from caucus, would likely be discussed at the meeting.

There are concerns internally that Mr Albanese could look weak if he didn’t come down harder on Senator Payman for a second breach of party convention that prevents MPs from crossing the floor except on rare matters of conscience.

Mr Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Mr Albanese had shown “restraint” in issuing Senator Payman with such a light punishment, amid deep internal unrest about her conduct.

Despite the public rebuke from the Labor leadership, Senator Payman is refusing to toe the line.

“If the same motion on recognising the state of Palestine was to be brought forward tomorrow, I would cross the floor,” she told Insiders.

Senator Payman accepted such a move could imperil her future with the Labor caucus.

“What I know is that this is about 40,000 Palestinians that have been massacred and slaughtered since the 7th of October,” she said in the interview.

“I know that Australians are a fair people and knowing about the Labor Party, we are a party with a conscience and champions of human rights, whether that be justice, fighting for freedom or equality.

“So I believe ... I’ve been abiding by those principles of the party.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt confirmed the minor party would use this coming sitting week to again pressure Labor over its position on Palestinian recognition and Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Mr Bandt said there were various options on the table, including parliamentary motions – such as the one moved last week – legislation and questions in parliament.

“Labor should not take further action against Senator Payman but instead should work out what action they can take to put pressure on (Israel Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu to stop this invasion (of Gaza),” he said.

Senator Payman said she had not spoken to the Greens about their intentions.

A major source of anger inside Labor ranks is Senator Payman’s insistence on pushing her position publicly, rather than through internal channels.

Senior Labor sources said Senator Payman had never spoken up in caucus about her views, including last week when it agreed to amend the wording of the Greens’ motion to call for the Palestinian recognition “as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution.”

Many colleagues have compared Senator Payman’s approach with Senator Wong and WA Labor senator Louise Pratt’s decade-long internal fight to shift the party’s position on same-sex marriage.

Referencing those comparisons, Senator Payman said Palestinians “do not have 10 years”.

“That’s why I will use what is within my power as a backbench senator to continue advocating for a just and lasting solution - and I think that’s what fair Australians want.”

Mr Marles, speaking on Insiders just moments before Senator Payman’s interview, hinted caucus could decide to impose further sanctions when it meets without her in the room on Tuesday.

In a blunt message to his colleague, Mr Marles said Senator Payman was only elected to parliament because she was on the Labor ticket.

“I cannot overemphasize enough how important all of us who are members of the team, regard the obligations of being a member of the team in terms of the way in which we behave.”