Penny Wong confirms some in Labor caucus ‘upset’ Fatima Payman crossed the floor on Palestine

Foreign minister and others say they had to argue internally for change on marriage equality, stressing importance of party unity

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Penny Wong says she understands why some Labor caucus members feel upset" about Fatima Payman's decision to cross the floor on Palestinian statehood, effectively confirming the party is facing a level of internal discontent about the lack of a severe punishment.

Wong, the Labor leader in the Senate and foreign affairs minister, also highlighted her own record of pressing internally for the party to support marriage equality prior to the ALP platform being changed in 2011.

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