‘Coming days:’ Albo hints at Payman bombshell

The fate of suspended Labor senator Fatima Payman will become public within days, after she crossed the floor more than a week ago.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flagged an announcement during question time on Wednesday, adding the Labor Party had “taken a great deal of care to give consideration” with Senator Payman.

“Senator Payman, of course, has made a decision to place herself outside the Labor Party, that is a decision that she made,” he said.

“I expect further announcements in coming days which will explain exactly what the strategy has been over now more than a month.”

The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday said Senator Payman had been in talks with supporters, including so-called ‘preference whisperer’ Glenn Druery, to leave Labor for several weeks.

On Sunday, she said she did “not intend on leaving” the party.

On Wednesday afternoon, she was photographed in the Senate talking with independent senator David Pocock and his chief of staff Fiona Scott.

Senator Payman had sat next to Senator Pocock when she crossed the floor.

Mr Albanese appeared to hint at Senator Payman potentially becoming an independent, alluding to former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe who remains in the upper house as an independent.

His answer is in response to a question from Greens leader Adam Bandt who asked the Prime Minister: “Why have you put more sanctions on a Senator for speaking out about Palestine than on the extremist Netanyahu government for invading Palestine?”

“And he’s (Bandt) on that crossbench who used to be members of the National Party or members of the Liberal Party and Senator Thorpe, of course, was elected earlier in the last election as a member of the Greens political party and chose to depart from that,” said Mr Albanese.

“From time to time, that happens.

“And that has happened in terms of the Senator making a decision, that she wished to be able to take an independent position when it comes to the Middle East.”

On Monday, Senator Payman said she had been “exiled” from the Labor Party, and said some colleagues were attempting to “intimidate” her into resigning from her senate spot.

At the time she said she would “use this time to reflect on my future and how best to represent the people of Western Australia.”

“Yesterday, the Prime Minister suspended me indefinitely from the Australian Labor Party caucus,” she said in a statement.

“Since then I have lost all contact with my caucus colleagues. I have been removed from caucus meetings, committees, internal group chats and whips bulletins.

“I have been told to avoid all chamber duties that require a vote including divisions, motions and matters of public interest.”

Bill and Pauline unity ticket on NDIS

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and Pauline Hanson have held a surprise press conference to back reforms to the NDIS.Senator Hanson has agreed to support the government’s controversial Bill to make changes to the NDIS to address shortages and blowouts.

Mr Shorten said negotiations with disability advocates on amendments to the Bill are close to being finalies.

But the Greens and Liberals have already delayed a vote on the Bill by referring it to committee for another month, which Mr Shorten is costing Australian taxpayers hundreds of millions.

MPs dismiss talk of early federal election

Senior ministers have brushed off rumours of an early election, with federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers saying he was working towards a May election.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stoked the speculation following party room meetings on Tuesday after the Prime Minister’s office confirmed he would be sending Defence Minister Richard Marles to represent him at the upcoming NATO summit.

Mr Dutton told Coalition members to “be ready” and said Mr Albanese’s absence could be a sign he was preparing for an early election, hinting at a September date.

On Wednesday morning, Dr Chalmers fought off repeated questioning from Today host Karl Stefanovic, saying the government was working towards a 2025 election date.

“I’m working towards an election next year. My understanding, my intention is that we go on the usual time frame. That’s certainly how I’m operating,” he said.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil faced similar probes during her appearance on Seven’s Sunrise.

“It’s not the government’s focus at all,” she said.

The Prime Minister, whose government was elected on May 21, 2022, has consistently said he wanted to go the full three year term before heading back to the polls.

The window for an early election has opened, with the next poll due by May 24 next year.

Chalmers sledge Coalition over supermarket policy

Speaking at a doorstop after introducing the bill, Dr Chalmers also took an opportunity to criticise the Coalition advocating for supermarket divestiture powers if they are found to be abusing their market power.

He said bipartisan agreement was off the table, and accused the opposition of “making it up as they go along,” and not listening to ACCC advice.

“So this is the same kind of shambles as we saw with nuclear and with migration. They can’t explain the most basic details,” he said.

“One of the reasons why the last three big reviews of competition policy hasn’t recommended we go down this path is because of the possible unintended consequences.

“If you made supermarkets sell, are they allowed to sell to another big rival? Does it mean they close down more stores in local communities? And does that mean less competition rather than more competition in local communities?”

In an unlikely alliance, the Greens have welcomed the policy, and said the Greens would ensure it legislation is passed through the senate.

Greens senator Nick McKim said the ACCC has consistently backed more competition in the supermarket sector as a way to reduce grocery prices.

He the Labor Party was putting supermarket giants ahead of Australian shoppers by not supporting the divestiture powers.

“This announcement yesterday by Mr Dutton and Mr Littleproud leaves just the Labor Party isolated as hugging Coles and Woolworths rather than taking the side of Australian shoppers,” he said.

Greens ‘undecided’ on second Palestine motion

With the indefinite suspension of Labor senator Fatima Payman still dominating the news cycle, punters are also closely watching whether the Greens will move a second motion supporting Palestinian statehood.

Senator Payman was suspended from caucus after she crossed the floor to vote against her Labor colleagues last Tuesday. She had also abstained from an earlier attempt by Labor to amend the motion to support a two-state solution.

The first term senator has been absent from the Senate and will not voting for the rest of the sitting week.

Senator McKim wouldn’t rule out the Greens passing a second motion to force Senator Payman to cross the floor a second time, saying the party “was considering” the matter.

“Our focus will remain as it has been on trying to force Labor into sanctioning the Israeli government and trying to force Labor out of complicity in a genocide.

“Everything that we have done has been about making sure that we stand up for Palestinians in Palestine and making sure we stand up for Palestinian Australians.”