Labor senator Fatima Payman says each step ‘felt like a mile’ after crossing floor to back Palestine motion

First-term senator risks membership after voting against her party by supporting motion on Palestinian statehood

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Labor senator Fatima Payman has crossed the floor, 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.

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