Senator Fatima Payman has launched her new political party, Australia’s Voice, and says Anthony Albanese’s seat of Grayndler is “on the table”.
Senator Fatima Payman has launched her new political party, Australia’s Voice, and says Anthony Albanese’s seat of Grayndler is “on the table”.
The first-term WA senator defected from Labor in July after she crossed the floor while supporting a Greens motion recognising the state of Palestine.
Speaking outside Parliament House this morning, Senator Payman announced the party and said several disenfranchised politicians had expressed interest in joining.
“We need something different. We need a voice. It is this cry for change that has brought us here today. It’s time to stand up, to rise together and to take control of our future,” she said.
“A new political party for the disenfranchised, the unheard and those yearning for real change. Australians are fed up with the major parties having a duopoly.
When asked what policies the party would bring to the election, Senator Payman said they would be announced soon.
“The policy platform will come in time. I’m very excited to announce them,” she said.
“All you have to do is look at a few of my speeches since becoming an independent – whether that’s negative gearing and capital gains tax, aged care reform or early childhood education.
“It’s a party based on what Australians want and it’s a party for all Australians.”
Asked who would join the party and whether there were specific seats she would target at the election, Senator Payman said nothing was being ruled out.
“The candidate selection will be occurred in due course. It will be based on merit and value alignment when it comes to selecting those candidates,” she said.
“We’ve already received so much interest from disenfranchised former Labor candidates and people in the Nationals party who have expressed interest.”
“In terms of target seats, we have not had those decisions yet but the Prime Minister challenged me the other day, so we might consider that. Maybe, maybe not.”
On questions of financial backing the party had received, Senator Payman said she was open to discussions.
“I’m open to donations, I haven’t had those conversation, yet we’ve been focusing on launching the party but I’m open to having these conversations.
Responding to questions of how the party would differentiate itself from the Greens party, Senator Payman said it would be a more moderate party.
“I admire the greens for their passion, but I’ve heard from Australians that sometimes the greens go way too far and when it comes to practicality and pragmatism there needs to be that level of engagement with what’s possible and what can be achieved,” she said.
Senator Payman became the first Muslim woman who wears a hijab to sit in parliament after claiming WA's sixth senate seat at the 2022 federal election.
More to come.
