Fatima Payman risks Labor membership after crossing floor to support Greens motion on Palestine

First-term senator votes against her party by supporting motion recognising Palestinian statehood

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The Labor senator Fatima Payman has crossed the floor of the Senate, 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.