Senator Files Complaint Over Colleague’s Remarks

Australian Senator Fatima Payman, the country’s first hijab-wearing federal lawmaker, has lodged a formal complaint with the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service after a male colleague, reportedly intoxicated at an official function, urged her to drink wine and dance on a table. Payman, who abstains from alcohol due to her Muslim faith, stated she confronted the colleague and quickly filed the complaint, describing the behavior as inappropriate and targeted. The identity of the colleague and the timing of the incident remain undisclosed. Payman expressed hope that younger MPs could help drive cultural change and said she was satisfied with the swift response to her case. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about toxic culture in Australia’s parliament, including heavy drinking, bullying, and harassment. Born in Afghanistan, Payman became an independent senator in 2024 after leaving Labor over its Gaza policy and has since founded her own political party.