Former Labor senator Fatima Payman launches new political party
Written by admin on October 9, 2024
Renegade Labor senator Fatima Payman has launched her own political party which will run candidates in every state at the federal election.
The first-term senator sensationally defected from Labor in July after she crossed the floor while supporting a Greens motion recognising the state of Palestine.
Senator Payman revealed during a press conference on Wednesday her party will be named Australia’s voice, which aims to challenge the two major parties, which she said had a “duopoly” in politics.
“I’ve spent countless hours listening to Australians around kitchen tables, in school courtyards, in community halls and on factory floors, and the message has been the same, a growing frustration, a feeling of being left behind, of shouting into the void, only for their concerns to fall on deaf ears,” she said.
Officially announcing her party after days of teasing, she quoted former prime ministers, and hit out at Labor for being “too frightened to put a foot forward”.
“This is more than a party. It is a movement for a fairer, more inclusive Australia. Together, we will hold our leaders accountable and ensure that your voice, Australia’s voice, will never be silenced,” she said.
While the announcement was light on policy details, she said voters could glean hints at her previous comments and citing areas like negative gearing and capital gains reform and housing affordability.
Senator Payman has said her party will be “as inclusive as possible” and not be aligned to a religion.
The party will focus on running candidates in the Senate, however it will also put forward candidates in the House of Representatives.
“It’s important for us to represent the communities and the electorates as best as we can, and that begins by making sure that the candidates we select are based on their merits and value alignment with the party,” she told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
She also left the door open to allow party members to cross the floor on conscious votes.
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Prior to her official announcement, Senator Payman taunted Anthony Albanese who told the Australian Financial Review she should give back her senate seat to Labor and run “under the banner of her new political party”.
In response, Senator Payman said she would consider running a candidate in the Prime Minister’s inner western Sydney seat of Grayndler.
More to come
