With the long-predicted departure of Senator Fatima Payman from the Labor Party, the whole saga is a timely reminder of the dangers of identity politics.
Despite being welcomed to Australia as a refugee from the Taliban, she hasn’t made a name for herself through her ideas for improving this nation nor even for her dedication to her native Afghanistan.
Senator Payman has instead become known for her obsession with the world’s sole Jewish State, Israel, and the myriad problems she has caused the Labor Party which provided her the opportunity to enter politics.
It’s hard to believe that the Labor Party couldn’t find a more qualified candidate in the vast state of Western Australia, where Labor dominates politically. More likely is that talented candidates were overlooked because they didn’t tick as many ‘diversity boxes’.
Labor certainly made the most of Senator Payman’s ‘diversity credentials’. Her profile on the WA Labor website, created ahead of her Senate run, begins: ‘My name is Fatima Payman and I’m an Australian Muslim with cultural roots from Afghanistan.’
Typically, politicians might focus on their vision, what they hope to achieve for their constituents or their achievements.
It’s not clear what achievements Senator Payman has. Elected at just 27 years old and currently the youngest Member of either House of Parliament, her CV is extremely sparse. Even accounting for her age, many Australians would say a Senator should first hold a ‘real job’.
The Labor Party has strict rules about dissenting from the Party’s position. Issues are debated at caucus but once settled, MPs are expected to toe the line. Senator Payman was well aware of the rules when she agreed to abide by them. By crossing the floor to vote with the Greens on an anti-Israel Motion, she made it clear that her loyalty to the Labor Party, which gifted her a political career, was non-existent.
In making an exception for Senator Payman, and refusing to meaningfully punish her disloyalty, Prime Minister Albanese demonstrated weakness and created a dangerous precedent.
Can any Member of Parliament who claims a religious, racial, or sexual allegiance now expect to be allowed to vote in line with that preference?
Jewish Members of Parliament, like Josh Burns who disagree with Labor Party Middle East policy, can rightly be outraged that they have been forced to vote for it. Indigenous Members can demand to vote based on their identity.
Spare a thought for Penny Wong who was forced to vote with Labor against gay marriage despite being in a relationship with another woman.
What makes Senator Payman more deserving of special treatment than Josh Burns or Penny Wong? On the contrary, it’s worth noting that Senator Payman is from Afghanistan, not Gaza. It’s unlikely she has ever set foot there.
Senator Payman may be a Senator for Western Australia but the weakness from Anthony Albanese was all about Western Sydney.
There are growing reports about moves to set up a Muslim political party or stand a network of specifically Muslim candidates in electorates with large Muslim populations in a challenge to the Labor Party.
All these proposed Muslim representatives seem to be motivated by one concern, the world’s sole Jewish State, Israel.
Australia is the world’s most successful multicultural society. Immigrants who come here should leave their ancient prejudices at the door.
An example is the divisive slogan, ‘from the river to the sea’, which Senator Payman is fond of repeating. Considered by the Jewish community to be antisemitic, it calls to eliminate the Jewish State which has borders from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. With social cohesion under threat and Australia grappling with a surge of antisemitic incidents, it’s intolerable to have a Government Senator spreading division.
In rejecting the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Australians overwhelmingly rejected ‘Identity Politics’. But not everyone got the message. The Greens thrive on division and ‘identity politics’. Labor walked into a Green’s trap by allowing Senator Payman to cross the floor to vote for a Greens anti-Israel Motion.
While some of Senator Payman’s extreme anti-Israel positions would find a welcome home in the Greens, it’s unclear how compatible her Islamic beliefs are with other Greens policies like legalising drugs and the promotion of transgender issues.
In time, Senator Payman, may join an emergent Muslim political party or stand as an independent at the next election. With reports emerging that she was already having discussions about her future, months ago, it seems that Prime Minister Albanese and Payman’s Labor colleagues were played.
After being burned, Labor should learn a lesson and steer clear of the dangers of identity politics but I’m not holding my breath.