The ABC understands she will not be joining any Muslim community-linked party.
The first-term senator from Western Australia was “indefinitely suspended” from the Labor caucus, where MPs discuss the government’s agenda and tactics, after she defied the party and voted with the Greens to call for the recognition of Palestinian statehood — and then vowed to do so again if necessary.
Senator Payman will now sit on the crossbench, meaning the government will need an additional vote in the Senate in order to pass legislation if it is not supported by the opposition.
Labor speculation about new party to be quashed
Senator Payman is expected to quash speculation coming from the Labor Party that she would join forces with The Muslim Voice, a grassroots organisation which says it plans to endorse independents with pro-Palestinian stances in several Labor-held seats.
That speculation was linked to the fact that Senator Payman is being advised by minor party “whisperer” Glenn Druery, who has also been advising Muslim community groups about political campaigns.
In Question Time on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he believed Senator Payman had been pursuing a “strategy” related to her departure dating back at least a month.
But Senator Payman told the ABC she believed the party was spreading that perception because it was upset with her actions.abcnews