Federal Labor has sided with One Nation after the right-wing party questioned the eligibility of independent senator Fatima Payman, who quit the governing party over its stance on Palestine.
Senator Payman, who now sits on the crossbench, holds Afghanistan citizenship and has previously made representations to renounce it but hasn’t gone any further following the Taliban’s takeover of the country.
The government supported her successful bid to become a Labor senator in the 2022 federal election, but in July she quit the party to sit in the upper house as an independent.
On Wednesday, Labor joined One Nation leader Pauline Hanson to allow documents to be tabled in the Senate questioning Senator Payman’s eligibility to sit in the chamber because of her dual citizenship status.
As Labor senators took their places to back the motion, independent senator Lidia Thorpe could be heard shouting as she tore up the documents and threw them at Senator Hanson.
Senator Thorpe gave the middle finger over her shoulder as she left the chamber.
Senator Hanson accused the Greens of forming a “protection racket” for Senator Payman.
“This should be referred to a committee to be investigated if she is eligible to stand in this place,” she told the chamber.
“I will stand my ground on this issue.”
Senator Payman said it was “absolutely outrageous” that Senator Hanson was taking this action when there was a legislative agenda to get through.
“Senator Hanson has worn the burqa in this place. Maybe it’s time that she pack her burqa and go to Afghanistan and talk to the Taliban about this,” she said.
“All Senator Hanson does in this place is spread hatred, spread division because that’s what you’re made to do here and it’s outrageous. It’s beyond comprehension.
“I am very honoured that I live rent free in Senator Hanson’s mind.”
In a letter to Senate President Sue Lines, Senator Hanson said Senator Payman’s disclosure of her citizenship status didn’t include supporting documents, such as correspondence with the Embassy Of Afghanistan or confirmation of the steps she took to renounce her Afghan citizenship.
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