Fatima Payman is poised to quit Labor and move to the crossbench within days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hinted the WA senator has been plotting her exit for weeks. Mr Albanese suspended the WA senator from the Labor caucus at the weekend amid the fallout from her crossing the floor to back a Greens motion on Palestinian statehood.
Any confirmation that the WA senator has been secretly plotting to jump ship will enrage Labor colleagues, particularly those who have tried to support her during a tumultuous fortnight in parliament. Mr Druery has also been in talks with members of the Muslim community as momentum builds for a teal-style campaign mobilising Muslim voters against sitting Labor MPs. A new group called The Muslim Vote is preparing to run candidates in three Sydney seats with large Muslim communities.