Australian Senator Fatima Payman has filed a formal complaint against a male parliamentary colleague, alleging that he made sexually suggestive and culturally insensitive remarks during a function in 2023. The comments, reportedly made while the man was under the influence of alcohol, included: “Let’s get some wine into you and see you dance on the table.”
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Senator Payman, a practicing Muslim who does not consume alcohol, said she found the comment deeply inappropriate and offensive. “I told this colleague, ‘Hey, I’m drawing a line mate,’ and moved on to making a formal complaint,” she told ABC’s Triple J Hack. She has since reported the incident to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS), which she said handled her complaint sensitively and efficiently.
Reflection of Deeper Issues in Parliament House
Payman, the first hijab-wearing senator in Australia’s parliament, described the culture within the institution as a “boys’ club” and called for urgent change. “All women, no matter their workplace… should feel safe and comfortable in their own skin,” she said.
In a separate interview with Guardian Australia, Payman said she initially questioned herself, wondering if she was overreacting. But after reflecting on the incident, she felt it was necessary to report the behavior. “If another colleague had told me that had happened to them, I would recommend them to make a complaint,” she said.
The function, which was attended by multiple parliamentarians, reportedly took place as part of official parliamentary business. Payman confirmed that at least one Labor parliamentarian had overheard the remark. Despite the presence of witnesses, the individual who made the comment did not offer an apology at the time or afterward.
Support and Institutional Response
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, responded to the allegations by expressing concern and calling for continuous improvement in parliamentary culture. “It is simply not good enough to have that behaviour take place in this building,” Ley said.
Payman noted that the person accused of the remarks was not a member of the Labor Party and is no longer someone she works with. She also said she had been assured by the PWSS that she would not be required to work alongside the individual again.
Although she did not name the colleague or provide specific details about the dinner’s location to avoid identifying the person, Payman affirmed her belief in the importance of young politicians holding their peers accountable. “We [young people] will let the other person know how we’re feeling,” she said.
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This incident adds to a series of troubling accounts that have emerged from inside Australia’s Parliament House in recent years. In 2021, former staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by a colleague in a ministerial office, prompting national outrage and a formal review. The resulting report found the workplace was rife with bullying, sexual harassment, and a toxic drinking culture.