Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed frustration with the media focus on his decision to indefinitely suspend Labor senator Fatima Payman, after she vowed to continue crossing the floor on Palestine.
Albanese told ABC News Radio that on July 1, the first day of a new financial year, “we want to talk about tax cuts”.
He went on to criticise Payman for choosing to give an interview to ABC’s Insiders on Sunday, in which she vowed to cross the floor to support future Greens’ motions on Palestine, giving the PM little choice but to suspend her indefinitely.
Payman in question time on Wednesday.Credit: James Brickwood
The prime minister said Payman “chose to do [the interview] in order to disrupt Labor and what we are doing today, the day before the most significant assistance that has been given to working people in a very long period of time”.
Albanese said the suspension decision was “not because of her support for a policy position that she’s advocated”.
“No individual is bigger than the team. And Fatima Payman is welcome to return to participating in the team if she accepts she’s a member of it,” Albanese said.