Senator Fatima Payman, Australia’s first hijab-wearing federal lawmaker, has lodged a formal complaint with parliamentary authorities, alleging a male colleague made inappropriate remarks to her during an official function.
Speaking to national broadcaster ABC on Wednesday, the 30-year-old senator revealed that the incident occurred after the older colleague “had too many drinks” and suggested she consume alcohol and "dance on the table."
“He said: ‘Let’s get some wine into you and see you dance on the table,’” Payman recounted. “I told this colleague, ‘Hey, I’m drawing a line, mate,’ and moved on to making a formal complaint.”
While the exact timing of the incident and the identity of the colleague remain undisclosed, the matter has been referred to a parliamentary watchdog for review.
Payman, who was born in Afghanistan and migrated to Australia as a child, is a practicing Muslim and has consistently spoken about her faith in public life, including her decision not to drink alcohol.
The development comes against the backdrop of ongoing scrutiny over workplace culture in Canberra. In 2021, former political staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped inside a parliamentary office, sparking nationwide protests and a review into parliamentary conduct.
The subsequent inquiry exposed a toxic culture marked by excessive drinking, bullying, and sexual harassment within Australia’s federal institutions.
Senator Payman’s case is likely to renew calls for structural reforms and greater accountability in parliamentary settings.
Once a member of the Labor Party, Payman now sits as an independent in the Senate, having severed ties with the ruling party in 2024 over its handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Neither the parliamentary watchdog nor Payman’s former colleagues have issued public responses regarding the complaint as of Tuesday evening.
